All Nippon Airways (ANA) has received certification from the International Air Transport Association (IATA)’s Center of Excellence for Independent Validators in Lithium Batteries (CEIV).
The certification was granted on December 24, 2024, making ANA the first Japanese airline to carry the title.
Lithium batteries have become the preferred energy source for powering a wide variety of consumer goods, representing one third of dangerous items transported by air.
IATA’s CEIV is a certification program designed to enable the supply chain of lithium battery products – shippers, freight forwarders, cargo handling facilities and airlines – to meet their safety obligations by complying with the applicable transport regulations, and to demonstrate their capability and competency in handling and transporting lithium battery products.
According to ANA, the growing use of lithium batteries in electric vehicles and other industries, particularly in Asian markets, makes the demand for safe transportation of potentially hazardous materials crucial.
ANA’s comprehensive lithium battery handling processes, including staff training, specialized equipment, safety protocols and quality control within the route networks, mainly at its international cargo hub at Narita International Airport (NRT), has met IATA’s stringent certification requirements.
The airline declared that the certification further strengthens ANA’s commitment to ensuring the safe and reliable transport of lithium batteries across its network.
“At ANA, our top priority is safety and the reliability of our services to our valued customers,” Kenichi Wakiya, Executive Vice President, Cargo Marketing & Services of ANA and President & CEO of ANA Cargo said in a statement.
“Being CEIV Li-batt certified by IATA reinforces our commitment to meeting our customers’ needs by providing the highest standards of safe transport,” Wakiya added.
Nick Careen, IATA SVP Operations Safety and Security, said: “We congratulate ANA on achieving CEIV Li-batt certification. This certification underscores ANA’s commitment to meeting the highest standards in handling and transporting lithium batteries safely and efficiently. The CEIV Li-batt program is vital for ensuring safety and compliance across the supply chain, and we are pleased to see ANA contributing towards raising the industry benchmark.”
In addition to the CEIV Li-batt certification, ANA has also earned IATA’s CEIV Pharma and CEIV Fresh certifications for its transportation of pharmaceuticals and perishables.