Yes, many hazardous chemicals can go by air, but under much stricter rules than sea freight. Air transport follows the ICAO Technical Instructions, which airlines apply through the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR), updated every year.
Some substances are forbidden by air altogether. Others are allowed only in small quantities per package, or only on cargo aircraft, not passenger aircraft.
How the air rules work
- Each UN number has an entry in the DGR that sets the packing instruction and the maximum net quantity per package for passenger aircraft and for cargo aircraft.
- Goods allowed only on cargo aircraft carry a Cargo Aircraft Only label, which limits the flights and routes available.
- Small quantities can sometimes ship as limited quantities or excepted quantities, with lighter requirements, but still under the DGR.
- Packaging must meet the air packing instruction, which is often stricter than for sea, because of pressure changes and vibration in flight.
- The Shipper's Declaration for Dangerous Goods must be completed by trained staff, as covered in what a DG declaration is.
When air makes sense
Air freight suits samples, urgent small lots and high-value products in small volumes. It rarely suits commercial quantities of bulk chemicals, because the per-package limits and the cost per kilogram make it impractical.
For samples, express couriers are often the fastest route, but many accept dangerous goods only under a specific DG contract and only for certain classes. Some will not carry any DG samples from certain origins. Our guide to shipping chemical samples safely covers the practical side.
Airline and country variations
On top of the DGR, airlines and countries publish their own variations. An airline may refuse a class the DGR allows, or a country may restrict certain goods entering or transiting its airspace. Your forwarder must check these for the airline and route you use.
Indian airports also have their own acceptance procedures for DG cargo, and the airline's ground handling staff will inspect the packages before acceptance. A missing label, a damaged box or a wrong declaration means the shipment is offloaded.
What you should check
- Section 14 of the SDS gives the air transport classification as well as sea.
- The quantity per package is within the passenger or cargo aircraft limit.
- The packaging meets the air packing instruction, not just the sea one.
- The person preparing the declaration holds current DG air training.
- The airline on your route accepts that class from India, and any transit country allows it.
- There is a fallback plan, such as sea freight in UN packaging, if the airline offloads the shipment.
Next step
The shipper is legally responsible for an air DG shipment, and the forwarder and airline make the final acceptance check. We prepare samples and documents at the factory so they pass. To start, book a free sourcing review.