Etihad Airways welcomes all guests on board including those who need any additional assistance. The information below highlights the reservation and clearance procedure for guests with disabilities, who require individual attention because of their medical, physical or mental condition.
Certain medical conditions do require prior approval to travel and provision of this is made where permitted in applicable rules and requirements. Etihad Airways is compliant with US Department of Transportation rules which govern the non discrimination on the basis of disability in air travel.
This information is for use for any guest travelling on an Etihad Airways operated flight. If the guest is travelling on a codeshare flight with ‘EY’ flight number but operated by another airline the procedure followed by the operating airline is followed and contact should be made directly with that airline.
What extra services can Etihad provide for people with medical conditions?
Etihad Airways provides a wide range of assistance including the following:
• Wheelchair (full details can be found in the “Wheelchair” section)
• Oxygen
• Stretcher
When is prior approval required for someone with a medical condition?
In general, guests who have a permanent but STABLE condition or disability do not require any special approval to travel with Etihad Airways.
However, for safety reasons, guests must be able to assist in their own evacuation of an aircraft in an emergency without any assistance. If a guest is not able to follow this they would need to be escorted by a safety assistant.
In addition, guests who are unable to:
• Feed themselves
• Visit the toilet unaided from the on-board wheelchair
• Administer their own medicine and medical procedures
should consider whether they need to be escorted by a personal assistant during their journey as Etihad Airways is unable to perform any of the above services.
The following is a list of conditions which require prior medical approval from Etihad
Guests who:
• Require a stretcher.
• Request Etihad Airways to provide in-flight oxygen
• Wish to use their own Portable Oxygen Concentrator (POC) or ventilator/respirator.
• Have a medical condition such that reasonable doubt exists that they can complete the flight safely without requiring extraordinary medical assistance; this includes but is not limited to a Guest who:
• Suffers from unstable Medical conditions (physical or psychological)
• Suffered from a recent major medical incident (heart attack, heart failure, stroke, respiratory failure)
• Requires the use of battery powered medical equipment or need to undertake any medical procedure during the flight e.g.: administering injections (except for Insulin and Epipen injections)
• Suffers from Thrombophlebitis (also known as Travelers Thrombosis)
• Is travelling with an infant with medical condition. Etihad Airways does not provide incubators onboard.
• Is an Unaccompanied Minor with a medical condition
Some medical conditions are not conducive with air travel and Etihad Airways considers the following generally unacceptable:
• Anaemia of severe degree, Severe cases of Otitis Media and Sinusitis.
• Acute, Contagious or communicable disease.
• Those suffering from Congestive Cardiac Failure or other cyanotic conditions not fully controlled.
• Uncomplicated Myocardial Infarction within 2 weeks of onset complicated MI within 6 weeks of onset.
• Those suffering from severe respiratory disease or recent pneumothorax.
• Those with GI lesions which may cause hematemesis, melaena or intestinal obstruction.
• Post operative cases:
• Within 10 days of simple abdominal operations.
• Within 21 days of chest or invasive eye surgery (not laser).
• Fractures of the Mandible with fixed wiring of the jaw (unless medically escorted)
• Unstable Mental illness without escort and suitable medication for the journey.
• Uncontrolled seizures unless medically escorted.
• Pregnancies beyond the end of the 36 weeks.
• Infants within 7days of birth.
• Introduction of air to body cavities for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes within 7 days
How do I apply for Medical Clearance?
Applications for medical clearance should be made to your nearest Etihad Airways Ticket Office or Call Center.
Applications should be made between 10 and 3 days prior to departure.
Each application must include:
• Etihad Airways Medical Information Form (known as MEDIF) completed, signed and stamped by the treating physician
• A full medical report issued by the treating physician stating the guest’s current medical condition and fitness to travel.
This document must be issued within the last 10 days before departure.
Download MEDIF form >>
Approval to travel is normally advised within 2 working day of receipt of the complete documentation required above. Sometimes our Doctor may require additional information and this will be advised, this may delay your application until all the criteria are met.
If approval is granted a Medical Certificate is issued by our Doctor and this will be forwarded to you. The guest must keep a copy of this certificate during their journey. We will also forward a copy of the certificate to our airport and in-flight teams when oxygen or stretcher travel is involved. Normally this certificate will be valid for both outbound and inbound journeys but in some cases an updated MEDIF and Medical Report would be required within 10 days of the return journey. This will be indicated on the Medical Certificate.
Our team of experts will set up any required equipment or services at time of approval.
Is there a cost for this service?
With the exception of stretcher travel Etihad does not make any additional charge for the provision of medical related services.
Guests who require stretcher travel will be charged the applicable number of seats used to secure the stretcher on board. For shorthaul routes this will be the equivalent of 9 times the full economy class IATA fare. For longhaul routes this will be the equivalent of 6 times the full economy class IATA fare. For longhaul connections to shorthaul flights the charge is 6 times the full economy class IATA fare.
Can the guest bring special medical equipment onboard an Etihad Airways aircraft?
Guests can bring the following on board without prior medical approval:
• Syringes to administer Insulin or Epipen
• CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure Devices) approved for carriage by the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA)
All other medical equipment can be carried subject to prior approval of Etihad Airways through the Medical Clearance process. Some standard guidelines exist:
• All equipment must be battery operated
• Guests must ensure they have enough batteries to last 1.5 times the duration of the flight
• The following POC (Portable Oxygen Concentrator) are accepted with prior medical clearance:
• AirSep FreeStyle with a DO 160 placard
• AirSep LifeStyle
• Delphi RS-00400
• DeVilbiss Healthcare’s iGo
• Inogen One
• Inogen’s Inogen One G2
• International Biophysics Corporation’s LifeChoice
• Invacare Solo2
• Invacare XPO2
• Oxlife’s Indepdendence Oxygen Concentrator
• Respironics EverGo
• SeQuel Eclipse
Conditions usually considered unacceptable for air travel
Although these are suggested limiting factors, each individual case must be considered on its merits and is dependent on whether or not the passenger is accompanied by a professional escort
• Anaemia of severe degree, Severe cases of Otitis Media and Sinusitis.
• Acute, Contagious or communicable disease.
• Those suffering from Congestive Cardiac Failure or other cyanotic conditions not fully controlled.
• Uncomplicated Myocardial Infarction within 2 weeks of onset complicated MI within 6 weeks of onset.
• Those suffering from severe respiratory disease or recent pneumothorax.
• Those with GI lesions which may cause hematemesis, melaena or intestinal obstruction.
• Post operative cases: a) Within 10 days of simple abdominal operations. b) Within 21 days of chest or invasive eye surgery (not laser).
• Fractures of the Mandible with fixed wiring of the jaw (unless medically escorted)
• Unstable Mental illness without escort and suitable medication for the journey.
• Uncontrolled seizures unless medically escorted.
• Pregnancies beyond the end of the 36 weeks.
• Infants within 7days of birth.
• Introduction of air to body cavities for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes within 7 days
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