IAG Cargo adopts IATA Dangerous Goods AutoCheck system

IAG Cargo, the cargo division of IAG (International Airlines Group) has adopted the International Air Transport Association's (IATA) newly developed Dangerous Goods AutoCheck (DG AutoCheck) to automate the acceptance of dangerous goods shipments from its London-Heathrow hub.

In March 2018, IATA announced the launch of Dangerous Goods Handling system, a digital solution that facilitates the acceptance of dangerous goods by checking all the regulations, rules and guidance contained in the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations (DGR) and converts them into an automated validation solution, enabling IAG Cargo to check the compliance for the Declaration for Dangerous Goods (DGD) against the latest industry regulations more quickly.

John Cheetham, Chief Commercial Officer, IAG Cargo said, "Every year IAG Cargo handles thousands of dangerous goods shipments - compliance checks on these complex consignments can be time consuming. Implementing the IATA DG AutoCheck platform will eliminate manual processes to transform and automate dangerous goods acceptance checks whilst increasing safety and operational efficiency."

The DG AutoCheck platform uses optical character recognition technology enabling paper DGD to be transformed into electronic data facilitating a safe, secure and efficient operation for IAG Cargo in relation to its dangerous goods shipments. The platform facilitates in the verification of the packages' marks and labels on dangerous goods consignments.

Brendan Sullivan, IATA's Global Head of cargo said, "Digitalization and improving safety are the industry's top priorities. DG AutoCheck achieves both in relation to the carriage of dangerous goods. Time consuming manual procedures are eliminated, and safety is enhanced through the reduction of human-error during checking. IAG Cargo's customers will benefit from greater efficiency, streamlined processes and enhanced safety."