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Note: Air Canada may provide long-term medical approval to certain passengers with a disability. Please see below for details.
View specific medical approval requirements for itineraries between Canada and the US.
For all other itineraries:
Air Canada requires a 48 hour advance notice prior to travel (72 hours for certain destinations) to process your medical approval. Air Canada will also make a reasonable effort to accommodate any requests made within this time frame.
Requesting medical approval:
Note: This applies to only certain passengers with a disability, including passengers who are quadriplegic or those who are disabled by obesity.
Air Canada requires 48 hours' notice in advance of travel (72 hours for certain destinations) to process your medical approval. Air Canada will make a reasonable effort to accommodate reservations made within this time frame.
- Book your flight with Air Canada Reservations, at aircanada.com, or with a travel agent, via the travel agent website (GDS bookings are not permitted);
- Print a copy of the Air Canada Fitness for Travel form, fill out section A with your name, contact information and flight details, and have it filled out by your attending physician;
- Fax your completed Fitness for Travel form to 1-888-334-7717, with 48 hours' notice in advance of travel (72 hours for certain destinations). Your request will be reviewed by the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk. Air Canada will confirm if you are deemed fit for travel with our without conditions.
- If you are deemed fit for travel (with or without conditions), you will receive an authorization number by email or a letter will be sent to you.
- Call the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk at 1-800-667-4732* and provide your authorization number and booking reference in order to request extra seating for medical reasons and make any other necessary arrangements for your flight.
Important note:
- Passengers who are quadriplegic may get permanent confirmation for an attendant. They must keep the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk advised of any changes to the information they have provided in the Fitness for Travel form, or of any new medical condition.
- Passengers who are disabled by obesity will get confirmation for 2 years, unless there are other medical concerns. It is the passenger's responsibility to inform the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk of any new medical concern, or of any significant changes to the information they have provided in Section 3 of the Fitness for Travel form.
Future travel for passengers with a long-term medical approval:
For all future travel, you will only be required to contact the Air Canada Medical Assistance Desk once you have booked your flight, and provide your booking information and authorization number. The medical information you will have provided on the 'Fitness for Travel' form will be on file. However, it is the passenger's responsibility to advise Air Canada of any changes to the information they provide on the Fitness for Travel form.
Renewal process of long-term medical approval:
The Fitness for Travel form must always be completed by your attending physician.
For passengers who are disabled by obesity only, renewal of the Fitness for Travel form may be completed by a physiotherapist, an occupational therapist, a nurse practitioner, or your attending physician, when there is no other medical concern. If there are new medical concerns, the Fitness for Travel form MUST be completed by your attending physician.
*Contacting the Medical Assistance Desk:
| Phone: |
1-800-667-4732 |
| Hours of operation: |
Monday to Friday: 8am to 8pm (EST)
Saturday and Sunday: 9am to 6pm (EST) |
View specific medical approval requirements for itineraries between Canada and the US.
For all other itineraries
You require medical approval before travel if:
- You have an unstable medical condition (physical or psychological).
- You have suffered from a recent major medical incident (e.g. heart attack, heart failure, stroke, respiratory failure)
- You have chronic obstructive lung disease and/or a chronic heart condition.
- You have undergone surgery in the last 2 weeks on your brain, eyes, ears, sinuses, chest or abdomen.
- You have anaemia or leukemia.
- You have a history of seizures.
- You require oxygen or need to use your personal oxygen concentrator (POC). View list of approved POCs for travel on Air Canada flights. Please note that the use of an approved POC for travel requires only 48 hours advance notice, regardless of destination*.
- You require the use of a battery-operated medical device during the flight. View important information on CPAP, sleep apnea and other battery-powered medical equipment.
- You have an infectious or contagious disease that could pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others on your flight (e.g. tuberculosis or SARS)*.
- You require an attendant to travel with you (attendant must be 16 years of age or older and capable of assisting you with your personal and physical needs).
- You have thrombophlebitis (inflamed blood vessels and/or blood clots).
- You have had an incident on board a previous flight or at the airport and may require medical attention.
- You have caused a flight diversion on a previous flight you have taken.
- You are an Unaccompanied Minor and have a medical problem.
- You have an intellectual disability (e.g. Down syndrome, Alzheimer's disease). Air Canada offers a Service for Unaccompanied Adult Requiring Assistance.
- You suffer from epilepsy.
- You are travelling with an infant aged 7 days or less or a premature infant or an infant with a medical condition.
- You have a cast that was placed on a part of your body less than 72 hours ago.
* applies also to flights between Canada and the United States.
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