BUP cargo weight tolerance requirements

New cargo weight tolerance requirements from 9 September 2026

From 9 September 2026, Air New Zealand Cargo is introducing new cargo weight tolerance requirements for BUP shipments carried on Air New Zealand aircraft at Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch ports only.

The current 5% weight tolerance will be replaced with a fixed tolerance of ±50 kg per ULD.

This change will improve the accuracy of cargo weight information used for aircraft load planning and weight and balance, supporting safe, efficient and reliable cargo operations.

What is changing?

At acceptance, each ULD presented for carriage on an Air New Zealand aircraft at Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch will be checked against its declared or certified weight.

If the difference between the verified weight and the declared or certified weight is more than ±50 kg, the shipment cannot be accepted until the discrepancy has been resolved.

What happens if the weight is outside the tolerance?

To resolve a weight discrepancy, you may be required to:

Update the declared weight Amend the Air Waybill or supporting documentation Provide an updated ULD Certificate Verify the shipment gross weight

What you need to do

Before presenting a BUP shipment for carriage at Auckland, Wellington or Christchurch, please ensure the declared or certified weight accurately reflects the freight being presented and that all associated documentation is up to date.

The ±50 kg tolerance is an operational control, not an allowance for inaccurate weight declarations.

Effective date: 9 September 2026
Applies to: Air New Zealand BUP shipments
Ports: Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch only
New tolerance: ±50 kg per ULD