IATA Launches ‘DG Digital’ to Transform Dangerous Goods Air Cargo Documentation

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has unveiled DG Digital, a new digital tool designed to modernise how dangerous goods are declared and processed in global air cargo operations. The system aims to replace outdated paper-based declarations with a fully digital workflow, improving safety, efficiency and shipment reliability.

DG Digital is integrated into IATA's DG AutoCheck platform and enables the digital creation, submission and validation of Dangerous Goods Declarations (DGD) for more than 3,800 regulated items, including lithium batteries, chemicals and explosives.

Ending the Paper-Based Dangerous Goods Process

Despite the rapid digital transformation of global logistics, IATA says 95% of Dangerous Goods Declarations are still processed in paper format.

Under the traditional process, paper declarations must be:

• scanned• converted into PDF documents• uploaded to validation systems• manually checked before shipment

This multi-step workflow often slows cargo processing and increases the likelihood of documentation errors.

DG Digital eliminates these inefficiencies by allowing declarations to be created, shared and validated digitally from the moment they are generated by the shipper, streamlining communication between all parties involved in the shipment process.

Real-Time Compliance With Dangerous Goods Regulations

The platform integrates directly with IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), enabling automated checks that identify potential compliance issues before cargo reaches the airport.

This allows shippers and logistics providers to detect problems such as:

• missing documentation• incorrect classification of dangerous goods• regulatory compliance errors

By identifying these issues earlier in the shipping process, the tool helps prevent costly delays, rejected shipments and regulatory penalties.

DG Digital also enables electronic data sharing across airlines, freight forwarders, ground handlers and logistics partners, ensuring that all stakeholders access the same verified documentation.

Significant Reduction in Shipment Rejections

The system was tested in Japan during pilot trials last year, producing strong improvements in dangerous goods shipment accuracy.

During the trial:

• only 0.5% of shipments were rejected after digital validation• compared with the global rejection average of 4.5%

The pilot involved major aviation and logistics organisations including:

• All Nippon Airways (ANA)• Japan Airlines (JAL)• freight forwarders such as Nippon Express, MOL Logistics, Nissin, Yusen Logistics, JAS Forwarding Japan, and International Cargo Service

The results demonstrated that digital validation can significantly reduce documentation errors and improve cargo acceptance rates.

Growing Demand for Dangerous Goods Shipments

IATA says the launch comes amid strong growth in global shipments of regulated materials.

Data from IATA CargoIS shows a 17.5% year-on-year increase in dangerous goods shipments in 2025, driven largely by rising demand for lithium batteries used in consumer electronics, electric vehicles and energy storage systems.

Since its introduction in 2019, the DG AutoCheck platform has processed more than one million dangerous goods validation checks, with over one-third of those occurring in 2025 alone, highlighting the accelerating pace of digital adoption in air cargo logistics.

Improving Safety and Supply Chain Efficiency

Frederic Leger, IATA Senior Vice President for Product & Services, said the digital platform supports safer and more efficient transportation of hazardous materials.

"IATA's Dangerous Goods Regulations are focused on reducing complexity and improving safety in the shipment of dangerous goods," Leger said.

"DG Digital supports this by digitalizing the shipper's declaration process, providing all stakeholders—from shipping agents and freight forwarders to ground handlers and airlines—access to the same document."

Leger added that the technology enables rapid identification and resolution of documentation issues before goods are physically transported, significantly improving operational safety across the air cargo network.

Advancing Digital Transformation in Air Cargo

With the aviation industry handling millions of shipments containing hazardous materials each year, the introduction of DG Digital marks a major step toward fully digital dangerous goods management.

By standardising data exchange and improving compliance verification, the system is expected to enhance both supply chain transparency and transport safety while helping airlines and logistics providers manage the rapidly growing market for dangerous goods shipments.