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Travelling while pregnant

You can book your flight as usual up to your 28th week of pregnancy, as long as you haven’t had any complications or medical concerns.

If you’re travelling during or after your 28th week of pregnancy, you will need to bring a medical certificate or letter signed by the gynecologist or attended physician. You may not be accepted on the flight if you travel without one.

The letter needs to include:

• Confirmation of a singleton or multiple pregnancy
• That there are no complications during the pregnancy
• The estimated date of delivery
• The latest date your doctor expects you to be fit to travel
• That you are in good health
• That there is no known reason that would prevent you from flying.

You aren’t allowed to fly after the 33 week of a multiple pregnancy or the 36th week of a single pregnancy however you may be accepted on our Rwandair short haul flights.

Mothers after birth Within 7 days after birth Not recommended for travel and Medical Clearance is required.

With optimized flight routes, the use of biofuels, and investment in clean energy sources, we are working towards a sustainable future for air travel.

Travelling with a medical condition

It’s important that you’re safe and comfortable on your journey. If you have a health medical condition or you need assistance to travel, you may need to complete a MEDIF Form.

If you have a medical condition such as diabetes, asthma, heart disease, epilepsy, or other chronic disease, see your doctor at least four to six weeks before you travel.

Ask your doctor for a letter describing any medical conditions you have and the usual treatments, including specific medications and dosages.

Make sure you have enough medication for your journey and carry it in your cabin baggage. You also need to check whether your medication isn’t prohibited in your destination and whether you need special authorization.

We’re not able to keep your medication cool, so make sure you bring a cool bag or vacuum flask if you need to.

Keep your immunizations up to date and carry your immunization card with you.

Mobility Assistance: we provide ambulifts and lifting devices for passengers with reduced mobility in select cities only; however, manual lifting may be necessary as an alternative where such services are unavailable.

Traveller’s medical kit

It’s always good to travel prepared. Here’s a checklist of some medical items you might need depending on where you’re flying and things to remember to carry on your travels. You can also bring a readymade kit from the pharmacy.

• Your regular medications (don’t forget to check if they’re allowed in your destination and bring a covering letter from your doctor)
• Vaccination certificate
• Travel Insurance with medical cover
• Digital thermometer
• Analgesics (paracetamol, aspirin, ibuprofen)
• Antacids for indigestion, heartburn or an upset stomach
• Topical antiseptic/antibiotic
• Antihistamines for allergies
• Dressings and adhesive bandages
• Mosquito repellent
• Malaria tablets, if your doctor has prescribed them
• Sunscreen
• Oral rehydration preparation.

Important Information

The MEDIF should be completed based on the passenger's condition within one week from the planned date of travel, submitted to the medical team for assessment and approval not less than 72 hours prior to departure.

Rwandair Medical Services might request further information or clarification before approving your MEDIF. You should also let us know immediately about any change in the passenger’s condition PRIOR to departure.

Medication Storage:In-flight refrigeration is unavailable for temperature-sensitive medications. We encourage passengers to bring their own portable ice packs to maintain the required storage conditions throughout the journey.

Passenger Requiring Medical Clearance

Medical clearance shall be required by passengers who appear to have a communicable disease or condition that could pose a direct threat to the health and safety of others on the flight.

Passengers travelling with the following conditions should complete a MEDIF when making a booking

• Passengers whose medical condition requires a supply of oxygen, a stretcher, a medical escort or treatment whilst on the flight.
• Passengers who may need to use medical equipment or instruments on the flight.
• Passengers whose fitness for air travel is in doubt, whether because of recent instability, disease, treatment or surgery.
• Passengers who aren’t usually accepted for travel, or suffer from serious or unstable illnesses or injuries.

There are two main factors we consider when assessing a patient’s fitness for air travel:

• Reduced atmospheric pressure: cabin air pressure changes greatly during 15-30 minutes after take-off and before landing, and gas expansion and contraction can cause pain and pressure effects.
• Reduction in oxygen tension: the cabin is at a pressure equivalent to an altitude of 6,000ft to 8,000ft and oxygen partial pressure is approximately 30% less than on the ground.

Conditions usually considered unacceptable for air travel

Rwandair medical department will assess and evaluate the information provided on MEDIF filled by the attended doctor and take into account whether the passenger must be approved or not However, as a general guide the following conditions are usually considered unacceptable for air travel:

• Severe cases of anemia.
• Severe cases of either middle ear infection (otitis media) or sinusitis.
• Acute, contagious or communicable diseases.
• Those suffering from congestive cardiac failure or other cyanotic conditions which aren’t fully controlled.
• Uncomplicated myocardial infarctions (MI) within two weeks of onset, or complicated MIs within six weeks of onset.
• Those suffering from severe respiratory diseases or recent pneumothorax.
• Those with gastrointestinal lesions which may cause hematemesis, melena or intestinal obstruction.
• Post-operative cases:
• Within 10 days of simple abdominal operations
• Within 21 days of chest or invasive eye surgery (not including laser surgery).
• Jaw or jawbone fractures with fixed wiring of the jaw (unless medically escorted).
• Unstable mental illnesses without escort and suitable medication for the journey.
• Uncontrolled seizures (unless medically escorted).
• Uncomplicated single pregnancies beyond the end of the 36th week or multiple pregnancies beyond end of the 33th week.
• Infants within seven days of birth.
• Those who have introduced air to body cavities for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes within the previous seven days.

Note

Any medical condition that would render a passenger unable to complete the flight safely, without requiring extraordinary medical assistance during the flight, is considered unacceptable for air travel.

Medical Clearance (MEDIF): Both passengers who are sick (unwell) and pregnant mothers beyond 27 weeks gestation are required to submit a completed Medical Information Form (MEDIF), which consolidates all necessary health data. This will prevent delays and the submission of varied, incomplete, or non-standard medical documents.

Notes on other conditions

Rwandair medical department will assess and evaluate the information provided on MEDIF filled by the attended doctor and take into account whether the passenger must be approved or not However, as a general guide the following conditions are usually considered unacceptable for air travel:

We take our environmental responsibilities seriously, and we are constantly reevaluating and improving our operations to ensure that we are minimizing our impact on the environment. Thank you for choosing Rwandair Airlines.

Join us in our commitment to a sustainable future by choosing Rwandair for your travels.