Turkish Cargo joins the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery program

Turkish Cargo has become the latest airline to join the IATA CEIV Lithium Battery (CEIV Li-Batt) certification programme, which includes training, assessment, and validation of competence to carry lithium battery products safely.

The airfreight brand of Turkish Airlines signed up during the IATA World Cargo Symposium taking place in Istanbul from April 25-27, 2023.

Turkish Airlines’ chief executive, Bilal Ekşi, said at the signing ceremony: “As a global air cargo brand, we are strongly committed to maintaining the supply chain for the lithium battery products and diligently fulfilling our responsibilities in this regard. Thus, participation in the CEIV Li-batt certification programme, which is globally accepted as one of the highest standards, is a great source of pride to us.”

Brendan Sullivan, global head of cargo at IATA, said: “The European freight market is one of the largest in the world, accounting for close to a quarter of total global trade. Having Turkish Airlines, one of Europe’s largest cargo carriers, achieve CEIV Li-batt certification is a significant boost for meeting shippers’ expectations in terms of the safe transport of goods containing lithium batteries.”

Operating with the passenger fleet of Turkish Airlines, plus 21 freighters, Turkish Cargo provides air cargo service to more than 340 destinations, 102 of which are cargo destinations, in 132 countries around the world.

Earlier in 2023, Qatar Cargo and handler Qatar Aviation Services gained CEIV Li-Batt certification. Other companies to have done so in recent months include DHL Global Forwarding in the UK, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Ltd (Hactl), and Singapore-based handler SATS.