We are unable to provide letters or certificates stating that a patient is “fit to fly.”
Assessing a patient’s fitness to fly falls outside the expertise and responsibilities of General Practitioners, and the BMA confirms that GPs are not required to complete Fit to Fly forms for airlines.
Who can provide Fit to Fly documentation?
- Hospital specialists / treating consultants – For patients under secondary care, your hospital team is usually best placed to give clinical advice and documentation.
- Pregnant patients – Airlines often require confirmation of gestational age. This can be provided by your midwife team.
What should patients do?
We strongly advise you to:
- Check with your airline to confirm exactly what documentation is required.
- Contact your airport if you need assistance or adaptations for travel.
- Seek guidance early to avoid last-minute issues.
Our practice approach
We follow national guidance from the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on fitness to fly.
For more information, please see the CAA’s health pages:
Health guidance for air travel | UK Civil Aviation Authority