Air Travel May Soon Be Easier for Passengers Requiring Portable Respiration Devices, But at What Price to the Airlines?
William L. Maynard and Andrew B. McGill of Beirne, Maynard & Parsons, L.L.P.
Many major carriers today do not provide respiratory services, which means people suffering from respiratory disabilities such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, sarcoidosis, and other lung diseases are effectively proscribed from flying with those carriers. The carriers that provide services do so at greatly varying cost to the passenger (anywhere between $0 and $1500 per flight), at varying oxygen flow-rate capabilities, and at varying requirements of notice of intent to use oxygen services (anywhere between 48 hours and one month).