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Air Cargo Screening - Definition & Meaning | Logistics Glossary

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GlossaryEN1 min readUpdated: Jun 26, 2026

Air Cargo Screening

Air cargo screening is a mandatory aviation security measure focused exclusively on flight safety, not trade compliance – its purpose is to detect explosives, weapons, or other threat items before freight is loaded onto an aircraft.

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Air cargo screening is a mandatory aviation security measure focused exclusively on flight safety, not trade compliance – its purpose is to detect explosives, weapons, or other threat items before…

Inspections use X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scanners, and explosive trace detection (ETD) devices; unresolved alarms trigger manual physical examination.

The regulatory framework varies by jurisdiction: in the EU it falls under Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 and its implementing acts, in the US under TSA requirements.

Last updated: 26 June 2026Published: 27 January 2026

Source: https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/ALL/?uri=CELEX%3A32008R0300

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Air Cargo Screening

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Definition & Explanation

Air cargo screening is a mandatory aviation security measure focused exclusively on flight safety, not trade compliance – its purpose is to detect explosives, weapons, or other threat items before freight is loaded onto an aircraft. Inspections use X-ray, computed tomography (CT) scanners, and explosive trace detection (ETD) devices; unresolved alarms trigger manual physical examination. The regulatory framework varies by jurisdiction: in the EU it falls under Regulation (EC) No 300/2008 and its implementing acts, in the US under TSA requirements. Regulated agents and known consignors may qualify for streamlined screening procedures. Screening outcomes determine the security status recorded on the air waybill (AWB) and are a prerequisite for aircraft loading.

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Recommended format: Source: Freight Academy – Air Cargo Screening (https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-cargo-screening), accessed 2026-09-18
APA style: Freight Academy Editorial Team. (2026). Air Cargo Screening. Freight Academy. https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-cargo-screening
BibTeX: @misc{aircargoscreening2026, title = {Air Cargo Screening}, author = {{Freight Academy Editorial Team}}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.freight-academy.com/en/glossary/air-cargo-screening}, note = {Freight Academy, accessed 2026-09-18} }

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