MedAire's 2025 Aviation Assistance: Key Insights and Impact

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2025 Annual Report

How MedAire Assisted Aviation Clients in 2025

In 2025, MedAire provided medical and security assistance across every phase of aviation operations. Overall medical case volume grew 13.8% year-over-year, with the strongest growth coming from Fit To Fly assessments.

Section 01

Prevention First: Aviation Security

In an evolving geopolitical landscape, aviation operators face complex security decisions that directly impact flights. MedAire's digital tools have become essential components of our clients' risk management strategies. In 2025, our mobile application supported critical decision-making through 31,953 total sessions across 1,504 client organizations.

Security Requests by Type

Aviation Travel Security Briefs (ATSB) 40%

Airspace Assessments 30%

Ground Support & Hotel Vetting 20%

Other Services 10%

Security Requests by Region

Middle East 40%

Africa 25%

South Asia 20%

Other Regions 15%

The Middle East (~40%), Africa (25%), and South Asia (20%) drove the majority of security requests. MedAire supported decisions across airspace and ground movement with a blend of 24/7 security team access and on-demand portal intelligence.

Section 02

Fit-to-Fly Medical Assessments: Proactive Screening

48.2%

of all cases in 2025

+18.6%

year-over-year growth

fastest-growing service category

Passenger Fit-to-Fly assessments outpaced both in-flight medical cases (up 12.2%) and overall case growth (up 13.8%). While MedAire actively added more clients throughout 2025, the category growth signals that aviation professionals increasingly recognize the value of preventive medical screening.

Top Conditions Requiring Pre-Flight Assessment

Gastrointestinal 21.9%

Musculo-skeletal ↑ trending upwards 18.3%

Neurological 12.7%

Obstetrical / Gynecological 7.7%

Injury / External 7.5%

Fit to fly denials (17%) are typically linked to acute, unstable conditions, with respiratory, gastrointestinal, and neurological cases most common, alongside cardiovascular issues and recent surgery or injury.

Emerging Trend

Dermatological cases showed the strongest year-over-year growth. This increase was primarily driven by the introduction of 'cosmetic surgery' as a distinct category, following rising case volumes observed in 2024. This will enable MedAire to accurately monitor trends, as medical tourism continues to rapidly increase.

Section 03

In-Flight Medical Assistance

In-flight medical cases represented 39.6% of total case volume in 2025, with MedLink handling over 180 calls daily. Year-on-year trends across these categories remain consistent and predictable.

Dominant In-Flight Conditions

Neurological 38.2%

Gastrointestinal 22.9%

Respiratory 7.2%

Cardiovascular 5.7%

Injury / External 5.3%

Pre-Flight vs In-Flight by Condition

Number of cases (2025)

Pre-Flight (Fit-to-Fly)

In-Flight Medical

Neurological 35,588

Gastrointestinal 32,834

Musculo-skeletal 16,300

Injury / External 9,551

Respiratory 9,278

Cardiovascular 7,453

Obstetrical / Gynecological 6,863

General 4,988

Allergy / Immunology 4,181

Dermatological 3,429

Key Insight: HOW DO PATTERNS SHIFT BETWEEN GROUND AND AIR?

Conditions that are visible or physical, such as musculoskeletal issues and pregnancy, appear nearly 10 times more frequently in pre-flight assessments than in-flight, demonstrating effective gate-level screening. Neurological events show a different pattern entirely: despite representing 12.7% of pre-flight assessments, they surge to 38.2% of in-flight cases. Many neurological events present without prior indication, making them inherently difficult to predict through pre-flight assessment.

Section 03 - Part 2

IN-FLIGHT Medical Diversions

In 2025 MedAire saw a 1.68% diversion rate, representing a decrease from 2024. When diversions can cost operators between $15,000 and $200,000 per incident, expert medical guidance that accurately distinguishes manageable situations from true emergencies protects both passenger safety and operational efficiency.

What Caused Diversions?

Neurological 488 43.5%

Cardiovascular 257 22.9%

Gastrointestinal 102 9.1%

Respiratory 101 9.0%

Highest Severity

6.8%+ diversion rate

Cardiovascular events triggered a diversion rate exceeding 6.8% - more than four times the overall average. Roughly one in fifteen cardiovascular cases required an immediate landing, making them the highest-severity category despite representing only 5.7% of in-flight cases.

Manageable In-Flight

<1% diversion rate

Gastrointestinal issues, despite ranking second in in-flight prevalence at 22.9%, had a diversion rate below 1% - showing these cases are generally manageable with proper onboard protocols and physician guidance.

Section 04

Crew Support: Protecting Operational Continuity

Crew Support cases represented 8.1% of total volume in 2025. This service provides assistance to crew members down route when they face medical concerns while traveling on duty, helping airlines maintain operational continuity when crew health issues could affect scheduling.

23%

Gastrointestinal

Food poisoning, gastroenteritis, vomiting

20%

Injury / External

Cabin odor events, falls

12%

Ears, Nose & Throat

Including blocked ears

11%

Respiratory

Predominantly upper respiratory infections

Musculo-skeletal

Back pain, strains and sprains

Key Insights

Seasonal Patterns

Respiratory cases peak in winter, while injuries increase during high-movement periods.

Hub Concentration

Major cities drive volume. London alone accounts for 17.6% of cases, enabling targeted provider coverage.

Clinical Impact

Only 3.2% require hospitalization & 42.9% of cases involve medical team coordination.

End-of-Week Concentration

45.2% of cases occur from Friday to Sunday.

Supporting Safer Operations

Medical and Security Expertise Embedded Into Day-to-Day Operations

Across every stage -- from pre-trip screening to in-flight medical guidance and crew support -- MedAire's expertise is increasingly embedded into day-to-day operations. This model combines 24/7 access to experienced clinicians and security specialists, with digital tools that support faster, more informed decision-making.

Passenger Safety

Pre-flight screening to in-flight response

Crew Wellbeing

Down-route support and clinical care

Operational Continuity

Smarter decisions, fewer diversions