In safe hands with Icelandair and MedAire

MedAire app makes managing in-flight medical events easier for airlines and crew

For Icelandair, the first-of-its-kind app provides faster time to care, better communications

September 10, 2019 - MedAire – the world‘s leading provider of in-flight medical advice and assistance to commercial airlines – today announced the launch of the MedAire Aviation App.

Airlines around the world participated in the beta testing of the MedAire app prior to its launch. Icelandair, responsible for transporting more than 4.5 million passengers in 2019, was the first airline to officially go live with the new app as part of its standard safety protocols. 

“Icelandair’s priority is passenger and crew safety. The collaboration with MedAire has been excellent and we are honored to be the first airline worldwide to be using the MedAire app. It is very exciting to get the opportunity to integrate the app, which will help our crew members manage medical emergencies in flight more efficiently,” said Jens Þórðarson, ‎Chief Operating Officer of Icelandair. “Icelandair continues to be a leading airline when it comes to combining safety and technology.”

Jens from Icelandair continued, “Our crews have been impressed by the simplicity of using the app. They thought it was very user-friendly and helpful in many ways. Above all, they felt extremely confident knowing that support and professional guidance on how to handle medical emergencies was just a tap away. It also simplifies the paperwork and information-gathering so the crews can focus on the passenger’s well-being and handle emergency situations more quickly.”

About MedAire Aviation App

The app leverages evolving technology to provide more options to aide flight crew when responding to in-flight medical events and ensure ill or injured passengers receive timely, accurate medical advice and assistance from MedAire‘s MedLink doctors. MedAire‘s MedLink is the first and foremost experienced provider of ground-based medical assistance services to airlines. 

“Flight crew are the first responders during in-flight medical events,” said Richard Gomez, VP of Global Product Development at MedAire. “Their role is critical in ensuring the passenger’s medical concerns are accurately assessed and communicated with the cockpit and the ground-based medical team. This can be challenging given cabin communication limitations, and the stress of being a first responder. Having an easy-to-use app in the palm of their hand, that walks them through how to respond to the most common and life-threatening events that occur on board, helps them deliver on that responsibility.”

MedAire assists the majority of the world’s airlines with more than 100 in-flight medical issues every day, and has managed hundreds of thousands of in-flight medical events over the last 30+ years. This extensive knowledge of the types and frequency of medical events that occur onboard informed the content and scenarios included in the app.   

The key benefits of the new MedAire Aviation App for airlines are:

• Improved communications for flight crew. The app provides the ability to communicate directly from the cabin via handheld device to MedAire’s MedLink doctors.
• Intuitive, guided patient assessment instructions for crew to capture vital information that expedites care based on type of medical emergency.
• Efficient and easy for first responders to quickly engage MedAire’s MedLink doctors for assistance during medical events.  

The new app is available as part of MedAire’s MedLink medical advisory service for in-flight medical events. Learn more at www.medaire.com/airlines.

Press contact: Erin Mitchell, +1 480.489.1424. [email protected]

About MedAire

MedAire (www.medaire.com), an International SOS company, provides fully integrated travel risk management solutions for aviation and maritime clients, including medical and security assistance and advice, crew medical training and specialty medical kits and equipment.

With one phone call, MedAire offers 24/7 access to emergency care doctors and security specialists any time of the day from anywhere in the world. When members need further support after their journey ends, the broader International SOS network enhances MedAire’s services throughout delivery.