Vienna Airport awarded IATA CEIV Lithium Batteries

According to IATA’s ONE Record database, 101 companies have meanwhile passed certification for IATA CEIV Lithium Battery. Assumedly, if the data is correct and complete, once Vienna Airport’s certification is entered as company 102, it will actually be the first airport to have achieved this. The majority of holders are cargo handling facilities and freight forwarders.

Julian Jäger, joint CEO and COO of Flughafen Wien AG, pointed to the: “High level of security and service in cargo handling at Vienna Airport: The IATA certification once again confirms our position as a reliable and secure cargo hub in Europe. Vienna Airport is an important cargo hub with shipments from all over the world – we want to further expand this position. To this end, we are continuously expanding our range of services and at the same time contributing to minimize risks in air cargo traffic.” The airport will be hosting a cargo day and pharma event later this month – the details of which were also only just sent out recently – where the airport will showcase its Pharma facilities, international connections and road feeder network.

Trained to safely handle Lithium Battery shipments. Image: Vienna Airport

CEIV Lithium Battery
The airport prides itself on delivering “the highest level of expertise and security in the handling of lithium batteries,” according to the release, and this statement has now been confirmed with the handover of the CEIV Lithium Batteries by IATA to Vienna International Airport. As with all air cargo players, the airport is faced with growing numbers of Lithium Battery shipments, which – given their volatility if damaged – require the strictest safety and handling standards. Lithium batteries are found in a vast number of commodities, from children’s toys to laptops, mobile phones, and all kinds of electrical appliances, As an air cargo hub, the airport sees a lot of transit traffic, and needs to be completely aware of the dangers and handling requirements to avoid any damaging incidents. It recently underwent a stringent audit to check that it fulfils all the regulations and requirements for this particular type of dangerous good.
Michael Zach, Senior Vice President Ground Handling & Cargo Operations at Flughafen Wien AG, expounded: “The new certification shows once again that we are very successful in implementing the highest standards. This is an important step for Vienna Airport and a strong signal to the market. At a time when the demand for lithium batteries is growing rapidly, it is crucial that we as a cargo hub ensure that these products are handled safely and efficiently.”

Congratulations, but…
The press release goes out on a limb a little with the sub-headline: ‘IATA CEIV lithium battery certification – a guarantee for safe transport.’ Yes, the certification is a “globally recognized program specifically designed for the safe transportation of lithium batteries,” and companies receiving it have been audited to ensure that they uphold the prescribed safety, training, and quality standards, and comply with global regulations, but it cannot guarantee that Lithium Battery incidents will not happen. At best, the certification can only serve to qualify that the company in question is doing all it can to minimize risk by reducing the chances of mishandling, abiding by international regulations, and providing a structured and validated approach to safety.
Despite certification, the inherent risks with lithium battery transport, such as thermal runaway or internal defects, cannot be completely eliminated. External factors such as manufacturing defects or unexpected circumstances during transit, may still pose safety challenges. Not to mention, undeclared Lithium Battery shipments that are not discovered – and the potential for those appears to be increasing, along with the alarming emergence of new warfare tactics such as the mass pager explosions across the Lebanon recently. These were originally attributed to the pagers’ Lithium-ion batteries being manipulated to short-circuit and explode. Where there is a will, there is usually a way to cause damage.
So, whilst the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery certification certainly is proof of enhanced safety, it can never be a foolproof guarantee against all potential incidents.

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