The International Air Transport Association has announced the release of the first edition of the Lithium Battery Shipping Guidelines, providing comprehensive guidance on how to safely ship lithium batteries and products containing Lithium batteries. The LBSG brings together all of the relevant content of the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations and UN Manual of Tests and Criteria, as well as detailed examples on packing, marking, labelling and documentation.

Official at International Air Transport Association have expressed shock and disappointment over the Ontario government’s proposal to more than double the Province’s aviation fuel tax. The fuel tax already costs Ontario travellers and shippers over C$60 million annually. When fully implemented, the increase from C2.7 cents per litre to C6.7 cents per litre will add more than C$100 million per year to the cost of air transport in the province.

The International Air Transport Association is calling on governments to ratify important changes to the Tokyo Convention 1963 which were agreed at a diplomatic conference in Montreal. The Tokyo Convention provides the legal framework for dealing with passengers whose unruly or disruptive behaviour leads to physical assault or poses a threat to the safety of a flight.

The International Air Transport Association has released data for global air freight markets in April showing demand (measured in Freight Tonne Kilometers) was 3.2 per cent above previous year levels. Demand has not, however, grown in recent months.

The International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced global passenger traffic results for April showing a healthy increase in demand. Total revenue passenger kilometers (RPKs) rose 7.5% compared to April 2013, an improvement over March growth of 2.9%.

The International Air Transport Association has appointed Conrad Clifford as regional vice president for Asia Pacific. Clifford joins IATA on February 1st 2014 and will be based in its Asia Pacific Regional Office in Singapore.