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Air Ambulance Services For Coronavirus Patients

Updated 29/11/2021

As the Coronavirus Pandemic continues around the world, IAS Medical is monitoring the situation closely and adjusting our services in-line with the latest government advice as it unfolds. We will continue to update this page to keep you informed.

Because each country is dealing with the virus in their own way, we continue to consider each journey carefully and on a case-by-case basis, ensuring the safety of both patients and crew. To discuss your requirements, please contact the IAS Medical team on +44 800 7 999 900 or via our online form.

Coronavirus is a highly contagious virus that is transmitted through bodily fluids, such as coughing and sneezing. It is easily spread amongst humans.

Many travelers have been caught up in the Coronavirus Pandemic as a result of their travel commitments. Falling ill abroad is stressful at any time but especially so in the wake of an outbreak of an unfamiliar disease and at a time where health services are already stretched.

If a loved one is away from home and has been diagnosed with Coronavirus, you may wish to bring them home to receive medical treatment and the support from their loved ones.

Regardless of whether their Coronavirus case has been confirmed or not, your loved one will not be able to travel on a standard commercial flight due to how contagious the virus is. However, it may be possible to bring them home via an air ambulance.

Can Coronavirus patients travel via air ambulance?
Yes. Subject to acceptance from the destination country, it is possible to transport patients with confirmed or suspected Coronavirus via air ambulance using specialist equipment.

There are specialist devices that are designed to support the safe transportation of patients with infectious diseases, such as the EpiShuttle. This pod-like device allows infected patients to travel safely, without spreading it to the medical or aircraft staff around them yet still allowing them to receive treatment.

Due to the size of the equipment, only one person can be carried at a time and only on a larger air ambulance.

While air ambulances have trained healthcare experts on board to provide the best level of care, a patient must be fit to fly before they can travel even by private air ambulance.

IAS Medical continues to offer a bed-to-bed medical repatriation service. As always, our priority is ensuring patient safety throughout every journey we make.

Will Coronavirus patients be covered for an air ambulance flight under their travel insurance?

Possibly. It’s important to check your travel insurance policy, as cover can vary between different providers. If you’re unsure, it’s always best to speak to your travel insurance company directly.

In some cases, travel insurance companies will cover Coronavirus patients for the cost of an air ambulance, usually if there are insufficient treatment options within the country. Before you book your air ambulance, you should always check what level of cover you have.

Of course, you can book a private air ambulance separately and pay for the costs yourself. Fill out our online form and we’ll provide you with a quote for your journey.

Can IAS Medical transport people home if they’re not unwell?

Yes. As an increasing number of countries close their borders, companies with teams based abroad may be concerned on how they can return their employees home safely. Air ambulances often benefit from exemptions to these border restrictions in some cases.

Where commercial flights are cancelled, an air ambulance could be the solution to getting your team home safely, even if they’re not infected by COVID-19. Our team will be able advise you on this further — get in touch today.

What measures are you taking to protect patients and flight crews?

The health and wellbeing of our patients and crew is always our main priority. In these unprecedented times, we have worked quickly to introduce new measures in addition to our usual safety standards. Find out more about these measures in our blog post.

Travelling via air ambulance helps you get your loved ones home and allows them to receive treatment in their home country. IAS Medical is experienced in providing air ambulance transportation across the world. For more information, take a look at our air ambulances for individuals page or read what our clients have said about our recent missions.

How is this calculated?

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Overview

If you need to arrange medical transport, the last thing you should be worrying about is money, so here at IAS Medical we offer all-inclusive prices to help you understand exactly what to expect. The cost of an air ambulance will depend on your individual circumstances, with prices depending on the following factors:

  • The patient’s location and the distance they need to travel
  • The type of aircraft needed
  • The number of medical staff required
  • The airport landing fees
  • The journey required by ground ambulance

The cost of medical crew

The overall cost of booking an air ambulance depends on various factors, including the number of medical staff required and the expertise needed to support the patient’s medical needs.

As an indication of how this affects the overall cost of an air ambulance, the cost of recruiting medical experts is as follows:

  • Flight Surgeons: £700 per day
  • Doctors: £700 per day
  • Nurses: £350 per day
  • Paramedics: £350 per day

The cost of our aircraft

Prices will depend on the type of aircraft you need to book, according to the clinical needs of the patient, the size of aircraft required and the equipment needed on board. Prices will also vary depending on how many people would like to accompany the patient on their journey, although this may not be possible depending on the patient’s medical condition.

For non-serious cases, there is often a choice of aircraft, in which case we will use the most cost-effective aircraft available.

The cost of airport landing fees

All airports charge landing and aircraft handling fees, which will impact on the overall cost of your medical transport. There may also be extension fees to keep the airport open, as well as aircraft de-icing fees.

We provide air ambulances from major airports right across the world, so we can get as close as possible to the patient’s hospital ward. We then use an RAF airport for flights into London, which helps to keep air ambulance costs as manageable as possible.

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