One of the requirements that surprises families most is that the deceased cannot simply be placed in an ordinary coffin and flown home. Air carriage of human remains requires a specific kind of container, and getting this right is essential, because a container that does not meet the airline’s and the receiving country’s requirements will stop the repatriation at the cargo terminal.
This article explains what the container requirements are for and what they generally involve. The exact specification depends on the route and the countries involved, so this is an explanation of the principles rather than a checklist.
Why the container matters so much
The container has to do several things at once. It has to be sealed and leak-proof, so that the consignment is safe and dignified for the length of the journey and any time spent in storage. It has to be rigid and stable, so that it can be handled and loaded by cargo staff without difficulty. And it has to meet the specification that both the airline and the receiving country require, so that it is accepted at every stage.
This is why a standard coffin on its own is usually not enough for air freight. The container is part of what makes the consignment acceptable to the airline, and it is part of what the receiving country checks on arrival. Our guide to what happens when a body arrives in the UK from abroad explains the arrival side.
The sealed inner container
The most common arrangement for air repatriation is a coffin with a sealed metal liner, usually zinc, inside it. The liner is closed and sealed so that the container is airtight and leak-proof. The whole thing is then often placed inside an outer wooden case or shipping crate for protection and handling.
Many countries require this sealed lining for the export of human remains by air, particularly where embalming has not been carried out or where the destination requires a hermetically sealed container regardless. The requirement is tied to the route, the preparation of the deceased, and the rules at both ends, which is why it is confirmed case by case.
How the container connects to everything else
The container does not sit in isolation. It connects to the preparation of the deceased, because whether embalming is needed and whether a sealed liner is required are decided together. It connects to the documentation, because certificates often have to confirm how the deceased has been prepared and contained. And it connects to the airline booking, because the container’s size and weight affect what aircraft and what cargo space are suitable.
This is why the container is not a separate task to be sorted out at the end. It is decided early, alongside the routing and the preparation, as part of one coordinated plan. The international standards behind this are covered in our guide to IATA standards for human remains transport.
What this means for a family
Families do not need to source or specify the container themselves. That is the job of the funeral director abroad, working to the requirements of the airline and the receiving country, coordinated so that everything matches. What families should know is that the container is a fixed requirement, not an optional upgrade, and that it is one of the things that has to be right before the deceased can fly.
If you are arranging a repatriation to the UK, contact us at any hour. We confirm the container requirement for the specific route so that the consignment is accepted without delay.