SriLankan Cargo gets e-commerce lift-off with IATA lithium battery certification

• Becomes South Asia’s first airline cargo division to secure the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) CEIV
• Reinforces SriLankan Cargo’s credibility with shippers and logistics partners by assuring them of compliant, efficient handling of lithium and sodium-ion battery shipments
• SriLankan Cargo Head says the airline has now reached the level of competing with the facilities available in countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai 

By Ishan Sheriffdeen

SriLankan Cargo, the air freight arm of SriLankan Airlines, has become South Asia’s first airline cargo division to secure the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) CEIV Lithium Batteries Certification (Center of Excellence for Independent Validators – Lithium Batteries), paving the way for it to consolidate on the opportunities available in global e-commerce.

The certification reinforces SriLankan Cargo’s credibility with shippers and logistics partners by assuring them of compliant, efficient handling of lithium and sodium-ion battery shipments.

Sri Lankan Airlines Head of Cargo Chaminda Perera Pic by: Pradeep Pathirana

It also positions SriLankan Cargo more competitively in the global supply chain for these batteries and battery-powered products, an ecosystem founded on rigorous standards, best practices, and mutual trust among stakeholders. Such batteries are widely used to power a range of products from mobile phones and power tools to remote-control devices, travel accessories, and toys.

Currently, the most talked-about segment in the air freight business is e-commerce, with most items sold via platforms such as Alibaba, Temu, etc., being electronic consumer goods, and mostly flown as air freight.

These electronic consumer goods come with lithium-ion or sodium-ion batteries, and such items are restricted when it comes to being carried by air in large quantities. There are only a few major airlines in the Southeast Asian region certified to handle such items.

“This certification highlights SriLankan Cargo’s ability to safely handle lithium and sodium-ion battery shipments, as well as battery-powered equipment. It also removes operational barriers in the air transport of these products, allowing the airline to capitalise on the growing e-commerce sector and unlock new revenue opportunities.

“We have now reached the level of competing with the facilities available in countries such as Hong Kong, Singapore, and Dubai with this IATA endorsement,” SriLankan Airlines’ Head of Cargo Chaminda Perera told journalists yesterday.

Lithium-ion related products are largely manufactured by countries such as South Korea, Japan, China, Vietnam, and India. And with Sri Lanka located around this circle, the national carrier will be able to carry more than what was handled earlier.

“We have invested heavily in the required infrastructure for the transportation and storage of articles containing lithium-ion batteries,” Perera added.

This achievement is also expected to support Sri Lanka’s import and export sectors, while enabling SriLankan Cargo to enhance its revenue and efficiency.

SriLankan Cargo has been providing connectivity for shipments across the Middle East, Europe, South Asia, Southeast Asia, the Far East, and Australia, with an online network of over 30 destinations in 21 countries and an offline network that extends to hundreds more global cities.