• In 2025, rising lithium-ion battery fire incidents, new cargo compartment regulations, and shifting trade flows pushed air cargo operators to prioritise integrated, engineered safety solutions that balance compliance with operational flexibility.
• Regulatory changes such as the move to Class F cargo compartments and growing SAF adoption accelerated demand for passive fire containment systems and lightweight, retrofit-friendly technologies across mixed fleets.
• Looking ahead to 2026, the introduction of a formal lithium-ion battery fire test standard is expected to boost confidence and global alignment, driving wider adoption of scalable safety technologies and more consistent training across the industry.

Rising lithium-ion battery incidents, new cargo compartment regulations, and shifting global trade flows defined 2025 for the air cargo industry—forcing operators to reassess how safety systems are integrated across complex fleets.

“In 2025, the airfreight industry’s focus shifted toward advanced safety solutions that integrate regulatory compliance with operational flexibility,” said Natalie Paul, Senior Vice President of Sales and Engineering at AmSafe Bridport and Nordisk. “This was a pivotal moment.”

The rise in global tariffs—especially US duties on Chinese and other imports—significantly impacted trade routes and drove an increase in e-commerce shipments from Asia-Pacific to Europe, according to Paul.

That shift, coupled with more frequent lithium battery fire incidents, has heightened demand for engineered safety products, particularly fire containment solutions. “The market’s increased demand for e-commerce shipments, combined with the ongoing number of lithium-ion battery incidents, has led to a concentrated focus and increased trials of our world-leading fire containment products,” she said.

2025 also brought major changes in safety equipment, tailored to meet evolving regulatory requirements. Paul pointed to AmSafe’s collaboration with Nolinor Aviation, which focused on adapting to Canada’s transition from Class B to Class F cargo compartments. Class F compartments, unlike Class B, require passive fire containment for longer durations and do not rely on crew access or built-in fire suppression systems.

“These were designed to provide up to six hours of passive fire containment, without requiring fixed bulkheads that would limit cargo flexibility,” she noted.

Weight-saving technologies also gained traction, partly as a response to rising costs associated with Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF). “Where airlines are increasing their adoption of SAF, they are also looking for ways to offset the increased cost,” Paul said. “This is driving the adoption of sustainable weight-saving initiatives wherever possible.”

Still, innovation hasn’t resolved the practical challenges of applying new safety mandates—especially for fleets operating multiple aircraft types.

“The biggest challenge this year has been balancing new regulatory requirements with the practical realities of multi-fleet operations,” Paul explained. That includes installing certified safety systems that are compatible across different aircraft and ensuring uniform crew training.

“The industry had to develop and implement robust training programmes to support these emerging safety standards ahead of mandatory adoption.”

Looking ahead, 2026 will mark a milestone: the long-anticipated introduction of a formal test standard for lithium-ion battery fire containment.

“A long-awaited test standard targeting lithium-ion battery fires is due to be published in early 2026,” Paul confirmed. “This will provide a standardised benchmark to which unit load device (ULD) providers can qualify their fire containment products.” ULDs are the containers or pallets used to load freight onto aircraft.

“This will increase operator confidence in selecting fire containment solutions. AmSafe Bridport, which has worked with the FAA and industry stakeholders on this initiative for years, will continue this work into 2026. Our aim is to support higher battery energy thresholds while maintaining strong fire protection standards for air cargo operations.”

The outlook for 2026 points to greater international coordination, with a push for scalable, retrofit-friendly safety technologies that don’t compromise efficiency.

“The biggest opportunity lies in accelerating the adoption of lightweight, retrofit-friendly solutions that enhance both safety and operational efficiency.” According to Paul, the industry must prioritise harmonising safety standards, ensuring timely retrofitting, and training crews to meet evolving requirements.

“2026 will be defined by smarter safety, stronger global alignment, and widespread adoption of technologies that enhance resilience across the airfreight ecosystem.”