# Lithium-ion cells and batteries shipped by themselves (UN 3480) · IATA (air cargo) — Flying with restricted items: FAA, TSA and IATA baggage and air cargo rules

For Lithium-ion cells and batteries shipped by themselves (UN 3480), authority is IATA (air cargo); restriction type is prohibited; scope is cargo on passenger aircraft; conditions is Forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft; all packages under Packing Instruction 965 Section IA and IB must bear a Cargo Aircraft Only label, recorded from its source on 2026-08-10.

- **Item or substance:** Lithium-ion cells and batteries shipped by themselves (UN 3480) _(verified: appears in the quote below)_
- **Authority:** IATA (air cargo) _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Restriction type:** prohibited _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Scope:** cargo on passenger aircraft _(our reading, not quoted from the source)_
- **Conditions:** Forbidden as cargo on passenger aircraft; all packages under Packing Instruction 965 Section IA and IB must bear a Cargo Aircraft Only label.

## What the source says

> All lithium-ion cells and batteries shipped by themselves (UN 3480) are forbidden for transport as cargo on passenger aircraft. All packages prepared in accordance with Packing Instruction 965, Section IA and IB, must bear a Cargo Aircraft Only label, in addition to other required marks and/or labels.

## Source

- https://www.iata.org/contentassets/05e6d8742b0047259bf3a700bc9d42b9/lithium-battery-guidance-document.pdf

Last verified: 2026-08-10. Review by: 2027-08-10.
Part of [Flying with restricted items: FAA, TSA and IATA baggage and air cargo rules](https://referencesource.org/air-travel-item-restrictions/).