diff --git a/dlt/common/destination/reference.py b/dlt/common/destination/reference.py
index 0944b03bea..e7bba266df 100644
--- a/dlt/common/destination/reference.py
+++ b/dlt/common/destination/reference.py
@@ -586,10 +586,21 @@ class SupportsStagingDestination(ABC):
     def should_load_data_to_staging_dataset_on_staging_destination(
         self, table: TTableSchema
     ) -> bool:
+        """If set to True, and staging destination is configured, the data will be loaded to staging dataset on staging destination
+        instead of a regular dataset on staging destination. Currently it is used by Athena Iceberg which uses staging dataset
+        on staging destination to copy data to iceberg tables stored on regular dataset on staging destination.
+        The default is to load data to regular dataset on staging destination from where warehouses like Snowflake (that have their
+        own storage) will copy data.
+        """
         return False
 
     @abstractmethod
     def should_truncate_table_before_load_on_staging_destination(self, table: TTableSchema) -> bool:
+        """If set to True, data in `table` will be truncated on staging destination (regular dataset). This is the default behavior which
+        can be changed with a config flag.
+        For Athena + Iceberg this setting is always False - Athena uses regular dataset to store Iceberg tables and we avoid touching it.
+        For Athena we truncate those tables only on "replace" write disposition.
+        """
         pass
 
 
diff --git a/dlt/destinations/impl/athena/athena.py b/dlt/destinations/impl/athena/athena.py
index b3b2fbcf0f..a5a8ae2562 100644
--- a/dlt/destinations/impl/athena/athena.py
+++ b/dlt/destinations/impl/athena/athena.py
@@ -530,7 +530,7 @@ def should_truncate_table_before_load_on_staging_destination(self, table: TTable
         if table["write_disposition"] == "replace" and not self._is_iceberg_table(
             self.prepare_load_table(table["name"])
         ):
-            return self.config.truncate_tables_on_staging_destination_before_load
+            return True
         return False
 
     def should_load_data_to_staging_dataset_on_staging_destination(
diff --git a/tests/load/pipeline/test_stage_loading.py b/tests/load/pipeline/test_stage_loading.py
index 42dee5fc8f..3bfa050fd7 100644
--- a/tests/load/pipeline/test_stage_loading.py
+++ b/tests/load/pipeline/test_stage_loading.py
@@ -218,7 +218,18 @@ def test_truncate_staging_dataset(destination_config: DestinationTestConfigurati
     # check there are two staging files
     _, staging_client = pipeline._get_destination_clients(pipeline.default_schema)
     with staging_client:
-        assert len(staging_client.list_table_files(table_name)) == 2  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        # except Athena + Iceberg which does not store tables in staging dataset
+        if (
+            destination_config.destination == "athena"
+            and destination_config.table_format == "iceberg"
+        ):
+            table_count = 0
+            # but keeps them in staging dataset on staging destination - but only the last one
+            with staging_client.with_staging_dataset():  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+                assert len(staging_client.list_table_files(table_name)) == 1  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        else:
+            table_count = 2
+        assert len(staging_client.list_table_files(table_name)) == table_count  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
 
     # load the data with truncating, so only new file is on the staging
     pipeline.destination.config_params["truncate_tables_on_staging_destination_before_load"] = True
@@ -231,7 +242,15 @@ def test_truncate_staging_dataset(destination_config: DestinationTestConfigurati
     # check there is only one staging file
     _, staging_client = pipeline._get_destination_clients(pipeline.default_schema)
     with staging_client:
-        assert len(staging_client.list_table_files(table_name)) == 1  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
+        # except for Athena which does not delete staging destination tables
+        if destination_config.destination == "athena":
+            if destination_config.table_format == "iceberg":
+                table_count = 0
+            else:
+                table_count = 3
+        else:
+            table_count = 1
+        assert len(staging_client.list_table_files(table_name)) == table_count  # type: ignore[attr-defined]
 
 
 @pytest.mark.parametrize(
diff --git a/tests/load/utils.py b/tests/load/utils.py
index 15b1e1575e..5427904d52 100644
--- a/tests/load/utils.py
+++ b/tests/load/utils.py
@@ -257,6 +257,27 @@ def destinations_configs(
     # build destination configs
     destination_configs: List[DestinationTestConfiguration] = []
 
+    # default sql configs that are also default staging configs
+    default_sql_configs_with_staging = [
+        # Athena needs filesystem staging, which will be automatically set; we have to supply a bucket url though.
+        DestinationTestConfiguration(
+            destination="athena",
+            file_format="parquet",
+            supports_merge=False,
+            bucket_url=AWS_BUCKET,
+        ),
+        DestinationTestConfiguration(
+            destination="athena",
+            file_format="parquet",
+            bucket_url=AWS_BUCKET,
+            force_iceberg=True,
+            supports_merge=True,
+            supports_dbt=False,
+            table_format="iceberg",
+            extra_info="iceberg",
+        ),
+    ]
+
     # default non staging sql based configs, one per destination
     if default_sql_configs:
         destination_configs += [
@@ -268,26 +289,10 @@ def destinations_configs(
             DestinationTestConfiguration(destination="duckdb", file_format="parquet"),
             DestinationTestConfiguration(destination="motherduck", file_format="insert_values"),
         ]
-        # Athena needs filesystem staging, which will be automatically set; we have to supply a bucket url though.
-        destination_configs += [
-            DestinationTestConfiguration(
-                destination="athena",
-                file_format="parquet",
-                supports_merge=False,
-                bucket_url=AWS_BUCKET,
-            )
-        ]
-        destination_configs += [
-            DestinationTestConfiguration(
-                destination="athena",
-                file_format="parquet",
-                bucket_url=AWS_BUCKET,
-                force_iceberg=True,
-                supports_merge=True,
-                supports_dbt=False,
-                extra_info="iceberg",
-            )
-        ]
+
+        # add Athena staging configs
+        destination_configs += default_sql_configs_with_staging
+
         destination_configs += [
             DestinationTestConfiguration(
                 destination="clickhouse", file_format="jsonl", supports_dbt=False
@@ -332,6 +337,10 @@ def destinations_configs(
             DestinationTestConfiguration(destination="qdrant", extra_info="server"),
         ]
 
+    if (default_sql_configs or all_staging_configs) and not default_sql_configs:
+        # athena default configs not added yet
+        destination_configs += default_sql_configs_with_staging
+
     if default_staging_configs or all_staging_configs:
         destination_configs += [
             DestinationTestConfiguration(