Transportation Resources: Air Travel
Sometimes, cancer patients and their families need to travel to specialized cancer treatment sites that are far from home. This presents logistical and financial challenges for many patients. These organizations provide some assistance with medical transportation. Please note: these are NOT air ambulance services. Patients must meet requirements for air travel outlined by each organization and there are no medical services available on these flights.
Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program
Works with specific healthcare facilities across the US to facilitate air transportation for patients who are seeking specialized treatment. Coordinated through staff at the treatment facility, not Southwest Airlines.
Air Care Alliance
Central website providing referrals to volunteer-based charitable aviation groups.
https://www.aircarealliance.org
Angel Flight
Provides free air transportation for medical needs. The patient must be medically cleared for air travel.
There are several branches throughout the country including:
- Angel Flight NE https://www.angelflightne.org/
- Angel Flight Soars (SW US) https://www.angelflightsoars.org/
- Angel Flight East https://angelflighteast.org/
- Angel Flight West https://angelflightwest.org/
- Angel Flight Central https://www.angelflightcentral.org/
- Angel Flight South Central https://www.angelflightsc.org/
Patient Airlift Services (PALS)
Provides free air transportation to individuals and families who need to travel to receive treatment but cannot afford to fly commercially. Patients must be ambulatory and able to sit upright. Primarily services the Greater Northeast region of the US: Virginia to Maine and Ohio to Massachusetts
Angel Wings for Veterans
Our mission is to ensure that no veteran in need is denied clinical care because of a lack of transportation.
Angel Wings for Veterans provides wounded, ill, and injured veterans and active duty service members along with their families with free travel to clinical care on the ground and in the air with gas cards, bus and train tickets, general aviation flights, and commercial airline tickets.
https://texvet.org/resources/angel-wings-veterans
Corporate Angel Network
Our goal is to transport cancer patients to the hospital where they need to be in order to receive a specialized form of treatment. Pairs empty seats - on both private and corporate planes - with qualified patients who need the rides, at no cost.
https://www.corpangelnetwork.org/
Footprints in the Sky
Provides volunteer charity flights for ambulatory (independent) patients requiring air transportation for medical care. They are also able to help coordinate air ambulance flights and flights where medical supervision is required but financial assistance for these services is not provided.
https://www.footprintsflights.org/
LifeLine Pilots
LifeLine Pilots facilitates FREE transportation for such medical needs as ongoing medical treatments, diagnosis, and follow-up care. Patients must be ambulatory and able to sit up. Limited service area, generally in the mid-west.
Mercy Medical Angels
Provides transportation on the ground and in the air to clinical care for those in need. Coordinates through commercial airlines and donated private flights. Patients must be ambulatory, able to sit up and transfer from a wheelchair.
Wings Flight of Hope
Provides flights to adults and children for medical care. Wings Flights require that all passengers, including the patients, be in stable condition, and able to get in and out of small aircraft with little or no assistance, along with other restrictions, that will be reviewed upon your flight request. Patients are allowed to keep their oxygen with them and in use on all Wings Flights.
Wings of Mercy
Provides transportation to distant medical facilities for patients who cannot afford to fly. Services the US, east of the Rocky Mountains.