IATA (International Air Transport Association)

Scope

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) is an organization supporting the airline industry in several areas including airport management, air traffic control, regulations, airline industry partners, and travel agencies. IATA also supports airlines by creating requirements for transporting dangerous goods by air.

Regulatory citations

• 49 CFR 171.22 — Authorization and conditions for the use of international standards and regulations
• 49 CFR 171.23 — Requirements for specific materials and packagings transported under the ICAO technical instructions, IMDG code, Transport Canada TDG regulations, or the IAEA regulations
• 49 CFR 171.24 — Additional requirements for the use of the ICAO technical instructions

Key definitions

• None

Summary of requirements

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) Dangerous Goods Regulations are based on the ICAO Technical Instructions and are the principal reference used by commercial airlines who are IATA members.

However, the IATA regulations do not have official standing within the U.S. The regulations recognized by DOT, and authorized under conditions prescribed in 171.22, 171.23, and 171.24 as an alternative to compliance with the Hazardous Materials Regulations, are contained in the ICAO Technical Instructions published by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Although the IATA Regulations are similar, they do not have the force of law in the U.S. and they differ in some instances from the ICAO Technical Instructions. The IATA regulations serve a number of useful purposes, such as informing shippers of carrier exceptions. However, they should not be relied on to achieve regulatory compliance with the ICAO Technical Instructions.