Summary

The safe handling of lithium ion batteries has been an evolving concept in the air cargo industry, with more information about potential hazards directly affecting the way American Airlines handles this commodity. Therefore, effective February 23, 2015, American Airlines Cargo will implement the following changes for the acceptance and carriage of Class 9, UN3480, Lithium ion batteries:

• We will no longer accept for carriage UN3480 Section IA and Section IB, lithium ion batteries, Packing Instructions 965.
• To minimize in-flight safety risks, we will only accept UN3480 Section II lithium ion batteries if they are tendered either bulk or built on a pallet-type ULD. Recent studies have shown that aircraft fire suppression works less effectively when these type batteries are enclosed in structural ULDs (e.g. LD3 or LD8 type containers), leading to this restriction.
• For clarity, there are no changes for Shipments of UN3481 lithium ion batteries packed with or contained in equipment. These will continue to be accepted either loaded on pallets, in structural ULDs or tendered as bulk.

Please ensure that any shipments tendered under these new standards also comply with all applicable rules and provisions published in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. As always, our primary concern when transporting dangerous goods is safety for passengers, employees, shipments and the environment. Thank you for understanding the necessity for these restrictions as well as your compliance with them.

Key Points

• American Airlines Cargo will no longer accept shipments of UN3480 Section IA and Section IB, lithium ion batteries
• There are no changes for shipments of UN3481 lithium ion batteries packed with or contained in equipment
• Effective date is February 23, 2015