Incheon Airport Community scores a world first with IATA certification

The Incheon International Airport Community has become the first organization of its kind in the world to be certified by the International Air Transport Association (IATA) as a Center of Excellence for Independent Validators (CEIV) Lithium Batteries (Li-Batt) facility.

This furthers the airport’s IATA CEIV certification for perishable goods (Fresh) and pharmaceuticals (Pharma).

The Incheon Airport Community was founded by the Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC) in December 2022 and consists of a total of 11 businesses, including three airlines, one ground handling business, and six logistics firms. This community’s goal is to obtain the CEIV Li-Batt accreditation.

The community underwent certification procedures over a five-month period, including in-depth instruction and evaluations, with every member successfully attaining the certification.

The Incheon Airport Community is hosted by the IIAC and consists of Swissport Korea, Korean Air, Asiana the airline, and Jeju Air.

A number of logistics firms are also included. DB Schenker, LX Pantos, Lotte Global Logistics, Seoul Air Cargo, Sejin Logistics, and Hyundai Glovis are those companies.

Since its start in October 2021, various airlines, forwarders, and operators have acquired IATA’s Li-Batt certification; nevertheless, this collective accreditation of an airport and its whole community is thought to be a first.

As the first airport in the world to receive this certification, Hee-Jeong Lee, the acting president of IIAC, declared: “We will lead the way in the lithium battery air transport market.”

IATA created extra Li-Batt certification to assure the safe transportation of these batteries in the worldwide air cargo market in response to the growing demand for lithium batteries brought on by the e-commerce and electric vehicle markets.

In June 2019, the Incheon Airport Community achieved IATA’s CEIV Pharma accreditation with success. September 2022 saw the community’s certification renewed.

The Incheon Airport Community received CEIV Fresh accreditation in November 2022.

In order to create an international organization division devoted to assuring the secure transportation of lithium batteries, the IIAC intends to work with airports all around the world.