Published by Shanghai GINGA International Freight Forwarding Co., Ltd.
22 Years Experience | Sea, Air, Rail, Road | Li Battery and NEV Transport Specialists
I. Regulatory Framework
China aviation DG transport system is centered on CCAR-276-R2, referencing ICAO Technical Instructions and implementing IATA DGR. Since January 1, 2026, IATA DGR 67th Edition is officially effective.
Important: Ministry of Transport Order 2024 No.4 (CCAR-276-R2) effective since July 1, 2024, replacing CCAR-276-R1.
1.1 Regulatory Architecture
| Level | Organization | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|
| National | CAAC | Regulation, licensing, enforcement |
| Regional | 7 Regional Bureaus | Territorial oversight, training filing |
| Technical | CAAC Science Academy | Standards, testing, certification |
| Industry | CATA | Training certification, self-regulation |
1.2 Airline Classification
| Group | Core Carrier | Key Members | Fleet |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air China Group | Air China (CA) | Shenzhen, Shandong, Air Macau | Wide-body dominant |
| China Eastern | China Eastern (MU) | Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao | Shanghai hub |
| China Southern | China Southern (CZ) | Xiamen, Chongqing, Hebei | Largest fleet |
| HNA Group | Hainan Airlines (HU) | Capital, Tianjin, West Air | Diverse fleet |
| All-Cargo | SF Airlines, China Cargo | Postal, YTO, ZTO | Full cargo fleet |
II. IATA DGR 67th Edition (2026) Key Updates
The 67th Edition, effective January 1, 2026, brings major updates focusing on lithium batteries, sodium batteries, and new energy vehicle transport.
Key Change: For Li-ion batteries packed with/in equipment (PI 966, PI 967), batteries with Wh rating greater than 2.7Wh must comply with 30% SoC limit.
2.1 Lithium Battery Transport (2026)
| UN | Name | PI | Pax | Cargo | Restrictions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 3480 | Li-ion (Standalone) | PI 965 | Forbidden | OK | SoC max 30%; max 35kg/pkg |
| UN 3481 | Li-ion (Packed with) | PI 967 | OK | OK | Device off; max 12% total weight |
| UN 3481 | Li-ion (In Equipment) | PI 966 | OK | OK | 2026: SoC max 30% (greater than 2.7Wh) |
| UN 3090 | Li-metal (Standalone) | PI 968 | Forbidden | Limited | Li content max 2g |
| UN 3551 | Na-ion (Standalone) | PI 972 | Forbidden | OK | NEW 2026; SoC max 30% |
| UN 3552 | Na-ion (Packed) | PI 973 | OK | OK | NEW 2026 |
2.2 New Energy Vehicle Transport (UN 3556/3557/3558)
| UN | Application | Pax | Cargo | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| UN 3556 | Li-ion powered vehicles | Forbidden | OK | SoC max 30%; short-circuit protection |
| UN 3557 | Li-metal powered vehicles | Forbidden | OK | Li content max 2g |
| UN 3558 | Na-ion powered vehicles | Forbidden | OK | NEW 2026; SoC max 30% |
| UN 3166 | ICE/fuel vehicles | Limited | OK | Fuel tank max 1/4 |
| UN 3171 | Battery devices | OK | OK | Wheelchairs exempt |
2.3 Nine Classes of Dangerous Goods
| Class | Name | Key UN | Pax | Cargo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Explosives | UN0081, UN0331 | Forbidden | Strict |
| 2 | Gases | UN1005, UN1011 | Limited | OK |
| 3 | Flammable Liquids | UN1170, UN1203 | Limited | OK |
| 4 | Flammable Solids | UN1325, UN2304 | Limited | OK |
| 5 | Oxidizers | UN1942, UN2015 | Limited | OK |
| 6 | Toxics | UN2810, UN3291 | Limited | OK |
| 7 | Radioactive | UN2908, UN2910 | Limited | Limited |
| 8 | Corrosives | UN1789, UN1830 | Limited | OK |
| 9 | Miscellaneous | UN3077, UN3536 | Limited | OK |
III. Major Airline DG Transport Policies
3.1 Air China Group
Members: Air China (CA), Shenzhen Airlines, Shandong Airlines, Air Macau
Cargo: Air China Cargo (joint venture with Lufthansa)
| Airline | DG Capacity | Li Battery | Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air China (CA) | Wide-body, B777F/B747F | Full | Europe, N. America, Asia |
| Air China Cargo | Full Cargo B777F/B747-400F | Full | Intl dominant |
3.2 China Eastern Group
Members: China Eastern (MU), Shanghai Airlines, Juneyao Airlines
Cargo: China Cargo Airlines
| Airline | DG Capacity | Li Battery | Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Eastern (MU) | Wide+narrow body | Full | N. America, Europe, Australia |
| China Cargo Airlines | Full Cargo B777F/B757F | Full | PVG hub |
3.3 China Southern Group
Members: China Southern (CZ), Xiamen Airlines, Chongqing Airlines
Cargo: China Southern Cargo (B777F)
| Airline | DG Capacity | Li Battery | Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| China Southern (CZ) | Wide-body A380/B777/A350 | Full | SE Asia, ANZ, N. America |
| China Southern Cargo | Full Cargo B777F | Full | CAN hub |
3.4 HNA Group
| Airline | DG Capacity | Li Battery | Routes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hainan Airlines (HU) | B787/B767+A330 | Full | N. America, Europe |
| Jade Cargo | Full Cargo B747F/B737F | Full | Strong DG |
3.5 All-Cargo Airlines
| Airline | Aircraft | Hub | DG | Specialty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SF Airlines | B767F/B757F/B737F | Shenzhen SZX | Full | Li battery, ESS expert |
| China Cargo Airlines | B777F/B747-400F | Shanghai PVG | Full | Strongest DG |
| China Southern Cargo | B777F | Guangzhou CAN | Full | Strong DG |
| China Postal Airlines | B737F/B757F | Nanjing NKG | Full | Mail priority |
| YTO Cargo | B757F/B737F | Hangzhou HGH | Full | E-commerce |
3.6 Private Airlines
| Airline | DG Policy | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Spring Airlines (9C) | Strict | LCC, limited DG |
| Juneyao Airlines (HO) | Limited | B787 has DG capacity |
3.7 Foreign and Regional Airlines
Note: Since Oct 2024, several European carriers (SAS, Virgin Atlantic, LOT) suspended China routes. Lufthansa and Air France-KLM reduced China flights.
European Airlines
| Airline | Code | China Routes | DG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lufthansa | LH | FRA/MUC-SHA/PEK | Full | LH Cargo strong |
| Lufthansa Cargo | LHC | FRA-SHA/PVG | Top | B777F/B747F; Li battery expert |
| Air France Cargo | AF | CDG-SHA | Top | B777F; China-Europe key |
| British Airways | BA | LHR-SHA (reduced) | Full | Passenger-focused |
Middle East Airlines
| Airline | Code | China Routes | DG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emirates SkyCargo | EK | DXB-CAN/SHA | Top | B777F; China-Europe/Africa |
| Qatar Airways Cargo | QR | DOH-CAN/SHA | Top | B777F/747F; strong Li battery |
| Etihad Cargo | EY | AUH-CAN/SHA | Full | B787 freighter |
Asia-Pacific Airlines
| Airline | Code | China Routes | DG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korean Air Cargo | KE | ICN-CAN/SHA | Full | Incheon hub; strong DG |
| Singapore Airlines Cargo | SQ | SIN-CAN/SHA | Full | Changi hub |
| Nippon Cargo (NCA) | NCA | NRT-SHA | Top | B747F; DG-specialized |
| Cathay Pacific Cargo | CX | HKG-CAN/SHA | Full | HKG hub; global network |
| China Airlines Cargo (Taiwan) | CI | TPE-CAN/SHA | Full | TPE hub; strong DG |
| EVA Air Cargo | BR | TPE-CAN/SHA | Full | TPE hub; B787 fleet |
| All Nippon Airways | NH | NRT/KIX-SHA/PEK/CAN | Full | Top China-Japan carrier |
Americas Airlines
| Airline | Code | China Routes | DG | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | FX | MEM-CAN/SHA | Top | B777F/B767F; global leader |
| UPS | 5X | LOU-SZX | Top | B747F; strong DG |
| Delta Cargo | DL | DTW/SEA-SHA | Full | FAA strict limits |
IV. Major Airport DG Handling Capabilities
4.1 Major Hub Airports Overview
Shanghai Pudong PVG
76.79M
Passengers (2024)
DG: Top Tier
Guangzhou Baiyun CAN
76.36M
Passengers (2024)
DG: Top Tier
Shenzhen Baoan SZX
54M+
Passengers (2024)
DG: Top Tier
Chengdu Tianfu TFU
44M+
Passengers (2024)
DG: Strong
4.2 Airport DG Capabilities
| Airport | Cargo Terminals | DG Warehouse | UN3480 | UN3536 | UN3556 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai Pudong PVG | PACTL, CE, Airport | Complete | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Guangzhou Baiyun CAN | CS Cargo, Baiyun | Complete | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Beijing Capital PEK | CA Cargo, Capital | Complete | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Shenzhen Baoan SZX | SF Airlines, SZ | Complete | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hangzhou Xiaoshan HGH | YTO Cargo | Complete | Yes | Yes | Limited |
| Zhengzhou Xinzheng CGO | Air China Jetguo | Complete | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Chongqing Jiangbei CKG | CQ Logistics | Basic | Yes | Limited | Limited |
| Hong Kong HKG | HACTL/AAT/CCT/DHL | Complete | Yes | Yes | Yes |
4.3 Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)
Hong Kong International Airport is the worlds busiest international cargo hub, handling over 5 million tonnes annually. It operates under a separate regulatory system from mainland China.
HKG Advantage: Separate from mainland regulations; accepts more categories of DG; strong CEIV certified facilities.
4.3.1 Four Major Cargo Terminals
| Terminal | Operator | Type | DG Capability |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuperTerminal 1 | HACTL | All-cargo | Top Tier |
| Cathay Cargo Terminal | CX | Cathay dedicated | Top Tier |
| Hong Kong Air Cargo | AAT | All-cargo | Full |
| DHL Central Asia Hub | DHL | Express hub | Full |
V. Passenger vs Cargo Aircraft Differences
Passenger aircraft (PAX) and all-cargo aircraft (CAO) have significantly different DG acceptance policies:
5.1 Key Differences
| Category | Passenger Aircraft | Cargo Aircraft |
|---|---|---|
| UN 3480 Li-ion | Forbidden | Allowed (with restrictions) |
| UN 3556 NEV | Forbidden | Allowed (SoC max 30%) |
| UN 3536 ESS | Forbidden | Allowed (approval required) |
| Class 1 Explosives | Forbidden | Limited |
| Class 2.3 Toxic Gas | Forbidden | Limited |
| Lithium batteries | Very limited | Full acceptance |
5.2 Domestic vs International Routes
Domestic Routes: Generally more restrictive; individual airline policies vary; some carriers accept more DG under CAAC special approvals.
International Routes: Governed by IATA DGR; more standardized but varies by destination country regulations.
VI. Enterprise Compliance Recommendations
6.1 Key Compliance Points
- Training Certification: All DG shippers must complete CAAC-approved training; certificates valid for 2 years.
- DGR Updates: Subscribe to IATA DGR updates; monitor CCAR-276-R2 implementation guidance.
- Battery Documentation: For UN 3480/3551 shipments, obtain battery test summary (UN 38.3) and SoC certificate.
- NEV Pre-approval: For UN 3556/3557/3558 shipments, obtain carrier pre-approval 5-7 days before flight.
- ESS Specialized Handling: UN 3536 requires airport DG warehouse approval; coordinate with terminal operators.
- HKG Routing Option: For challenging shipments, Hong Kong offers more flexible DG acceptance; consider as alternative.
- Carrier Selection: Choose all-cargo carriers for UN 3480, UN 3556, UN 3536; major cargo airlines have established protocols.
6.2 Recommended Airlines by Cargo Type
| Cargo Type | Recommended Airlines |
|---|---|
| UN 3480 Li-ion batteries | SF Airlines, China Cargo, Lufthansa Cargo, FedEx |
| UN 3556/3558 NEV | China Cargo, Air China Cargo, SF Airlines |
| UN 3536 ESS | SF Airlines (specialized), China Cargo |
| General DG | Lufthansa Cargo, Qatar Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo |
Professional Assistance: For complex DG shipments, contact GINGA Logistics for expert consultation and door-to-door service.