Are there any travel restrictions for passengers with special medical conditions?

Yes, depending on your medical condition, special measures have been established to protect your health. Please take into account the following requirements so that you can travel safely.

• Any special medical condition requires a medical certificate issued no earlier than 10 days prior to the date of travel and guaranteeing favorable conditions for the patient to travel.
• If you have any of the medical conditions listed below, you should take the stipulated rest and recovery time before traveling to avoid putting your life at risk.
• If there is a difference between the number of days allowed for travel by the treating physician and the Airport Health Authority's opinion, the Health Authority's opinion shall prevail. 
• If there is no Airport Health Authority to validate your health status, in applicable cases, you may travel on the days following the permitted waiting time.

Orthopedic surgeries

• Arthroscopy:
  Travel is permitted after 3 days.
• Joint replacement:
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.
  Assessment by Airport Health Authority is required.
• Osteosynthesis:
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.

Plastic surgery

• Facial rejuvenation (laparoscopic surgery, with gas or liquid substances):
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.
• Mammoplasty (augmentation, reduction), breast pexy (with/without implants) :
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Treatment of gynecomastia, gluteopasty, brachio- and musioplasty, pectoral and calf implants:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Liposuction, mini tummy tuck, abdominoplasty and lipoabdominoplasty:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Buttock surgery and implants:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Buttock fat injection:
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.

Facial surgeries

• Cosmetic, reconstructive or maxillofacial facial surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Rhytidoplasty, free flaps and/or combination of 2 or more facial procedures:
  Depending on development, absence of complications and/or pain control, travel is permitted after 15 days.
• Complex mandibular fracture, panfacial fractures, bimaxillary orthognathic surgery, correction of craniosynotonosis:
  Depending on the progress, absence of complications and/or pain control, travel is permitted after 15 days.

Body surgeries

• Reconstructive surgery of local skin flaps, skin grafts, dermabrasion, scar revision, tissue expanders:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Combination of 2 or more body procedures:
  Depending on development, absence of complications and/or pain control, travel is permitted after 15 days.
• Post-bariatric surgery:
  Depending on the progress, absence of complications and/or pain control, travel is permitted after 15 days.

Hand surgeries

• Fingertip reconstruction, isolated and combined extensor tenorrhaphy; isolated and combined flexor tenorrhaphy:
  Travel is permitted after 15 days.
• Isolated neurorrhaphies, nerve decompressions, multiple phalangeal fractures, isolated and multiple metacarpal fractures:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Isolated and combined carpal fracture; correction of polysyndactyly:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Complex extensor tenorrhaphy, complex flexor tenorrhaphy, complex multiple phalangeal fractures:
  Travel is permitted after 15 days.
• Complex multiple metacarpal fractures, complex carpal fractures and a combination of several procedures:
  Travel is permitted after 15 days.

Fractures and non-surgical procedures

• Open Casts or Splints:
  Travel is permitted after 1 day.
• Closed Casts:
  Travel is permitted after 2 days.
• Pneumatic Splints:
  Persons are unfit to travel.

Ophthalmologic surgeries

• Retinal surgery with gas:
  Travel is permitted after 4 weeks.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Gasless retinal surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 3 days.
• Intraocular injection:
  Travel is permitted after 24 hours.
• Intraocular injection with gas (sulfur hexafluoride):
  Travel is permitted after 2 weeks.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Intraocular injection with gas (perfluoropropane):
  Travel is permitted after 21 days.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Glaucoma under treatment:
  You can travel immediately.
• Acute glaucoma:
  Persons unfit to travel for medical reasons.
• Penetrating glaucoma surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 3 days.
• Laser surgery for glaucoma:
  Travel is permitted after 24 hours.
• Corneal transplant:
  Travel is permitted after 3 days.
• LASIK or intracorneal rings, PRK or crosslinking, pterygium surgery and strabismus surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 24 hours.
• Cataract surgery and ocular trauma:
  Travel is permitted after 3 days.
• Ocular trauma managed with gas:
  Travel is permitted after 21 days.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• External eye infection:
  Travel is permitted after 24 hours of treatment and/or 3 days until in a non-infectious phase.
• Eyelid surgeries, conjunctival surgeries and extraocular muscles:
  Travel is permitted after 3 days.

Otorhinolaryngological surgeries

• Tonsillectomies:
  Travel is permitted after 2 weeks.
• Tympanoplasty:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Rhinoplasty and/or septoplasty, turbinoplasty (turbinates):
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.
• Endoscopic sinus surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Individuals who have undergone cerclage procedures:
  Persons unfit to travel due to the procedure.
• Neck incisions and thyroidectomies:
  Travel is permitted after 21 days.
• Mastoidectomy, tonsillectomy, and adenotonsillectomy:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Ventilation tubes:
  Travel is permitted after 2 days.
• Neck surgeries:
  For hospitalized patients with tumors or other comorbidities, travel is permitted after 21 days.
• Anterior and posterior sinus wall fractures, orbitozygomatic fractures:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Combined mandibular fracture:
  Travel is permitted after 21 days.
• Le Fort I:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Le Fort II and III:
  Travel is permitted after 21 days.
• Jaw incisions or any jaw procedures:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Facial nerve surgeries:
  Travel is permitted after 21 days.

General surgery

• Major cardiac surgery, valve replacement, coronary bypass, correction of atrial or ventricular septal defect, heart transplant:
  According to the specific opinion of the treating physician, travel is permitted after 14 days.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Angioplasty with or without stent:
  Travel is permitted after 5 days.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Angiography:
  Travel is permitted after 48 hours.
• Pacemaker or defibrillator implant:
  Travel is permitted after 48 hours.
• Ablation therapy:
  Travel is permitted after 1 week.
• Major lung surgery, lobectomy, pleurectomy, open lung biopsy:
  Travel is permitted after 2 weeks.
• Cardiac surgeries without pleural interventions:
  Travel is permitted after 2 weeks.
• Major abdominal surgery, bowel resection, open hysterectomy, kidney surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Appendectomy:
  Travel is permitted after 5 days.
• Laparoscopic surgery:
  Travel is permitted after 5 days.
• Colostomy:
  Travel is permitted after 10 days.
• Colonoscopy:
  Travel is permitted after 24 hours.

Travel restrictions during pregnancy

• Uncomplicated pregnancies over 36 weeks and complicated pregnancies between 32 and 36 weeks:
  Persons unfit to travel for medical reasons.
• Uncomplicated pregnancies between 32 weeks and 36 weeks:
  People suitable for international and domestic flights with medical certification from the treating specialist.
  On flights of more than 8 hours, prophylaxis with anti-embolism measures is recommended.
• High-risk pregnancies under 28 weeks:
  Persons eligible for domestic and international flights.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Abnormal uterine bleeding of any etiology:
  People unfit to travel for medical reasons.
• Miscarriage:
  Persons who have experienced a miscarriage are fit for flights of up to 6 hours.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Fetal dystocia, fetal growth restriction, history of ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage, maternal age less than or equal to 15 or greater than or equal to 35 years, multiple gestation, placenta previa or other placental abnormality:
  Individuals suitable for domestic and international flights.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.

Newborns

• Healthy newborns after 7 days:
  No contraindications for flight.
  No authorization required.
• Newborns under 48 hours old:
  Not suitable for travel.
• Newborns between 48 hours and 6 days old:
  Authorized with neonatal portable oxygen concentrator.
  (Medical certificate required)
• Newborns with comorbidities:
  Authorized with medical certification from the treating neonatologist.
  Review special requirements.
• Healthy premature newborns older than 32 weeks:
  Authorized with medical certification from the treating neonatologist.
  They must have completed the kangaroo care plan and have adequate oxygen saturation levels.
  Assessment by Airport Health Authority is required.
• Premature newborns with comorbidities:
  Authorized with medical certification from the treating neonatologist.
  Review special requirements.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Premature newborns, requiring oxygen:
  Authorized with neonatal oxygen concentrator.
  Ensuring age-appropriate flows.
  (Medical certificate required)
• Premature newborns under 1500 g and/or under 32 weeks:
  Not suitable for travel.
• Premature newborns weighing more than 1500 g and more than 32 weeks gestational age at birth:
  Authorized with neonatal supplemental oxygen concentrator.
  Oxygen saturation greater than 90%.
• Premature newborns weighing more than 2500 g:
  Authorized with certification from the treating neonatologist.
  A medical certificate is required if the patient has comorbidities.
  Assessment by Airport Health Authority is required.

Cardiovascular medical conditions

• Unstable angina:
  People unfit to travel.
• Stable angina:
  Travel is permitted after 2 weeks.
• Uncomplicated acute myocardial infarction, coronary stenting and elective angioplasty:
  Low risk, can travel after 72 hours.
  Medium risk, can travel after 7 days.
  If high risk, they are considered unfit to travel for medical reasons.
• Complicated acute myocardial infarction:
  Cannot travel until stabilization.
  After stabilization, can travel after 40 days.
• Compensated chronic heart failure:
  A medical certificate specifying the need for oxygen is required.
• Acute heart failure:
  Persons unfit to travel.
• Revascularization, bypass and valve replacement:
  Travel is permitted after 14 days.
• Symptomatic valvular disease:
  Persons unfit to travel.
• Controlled high blood pressure:
  No travel restrictions.
• Pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator:
  No restrictions in terms of number of days.
  Good working order required.
• Supraventricular or ventricular tachycardia:
  If it is stable, it only requires a medical certificate.
  If they are not stable, the person is considered unfit to travel for medical reasons.
• Paroxysmal supraventricular arrhythmia:
  If stable, only a medical certificate is required.
  If they are not stable, the person is considered unfit to travel for medical reasons.
• Persistent or permanent atrial fibrillation:
  If it is stable, you only need a medical certificate.
  If they are not stable, the person is considered unfit to travel for medical reasons.

Respiratory medical conditions

• Tracheostomy:
  No contraindication.
  Review and report if additional equipment is required.
• Compensated COPD:
  No contraindication.
  A medical certificate is required.
• Controlled asthma:
  No contraindication.
  No medical certificate required.
• Pneumothorax:
  Travel is permitted 7 to 14 days after resolution.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Pleural effusion:
  Travel is permitted 14 days after resolution.
  A medical certificate is required.
• Acute heart failure:
  Persons unfit to travel.
• Pulmonary hypertension and pneumonia:
  Persons unfit to travel.
• Terminal cancer:
  Persons unfit to travel.
• Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome:
  No travel restrictions.
  Review and report if additional equipment is required.

Psychiatric medical conditions

• Suicidal, violent or psychotic patient:
  Persons unfit to travel.
• Controlled depression:
  No contraindication.
• States of anxiety or anxiety crisis:
  Travel is permitted 24 hours after resolution.
  Assessment by Airport Health is required.
• Compensated aerophobia:
  No contraindication to travel.
• Alzheimer's:
  Allowed to travel with a companion upon presentation of a medical certificate.
• Substance users:
  Persons unfit to travel.

Neurological medical conditions

• Patients with seizures:
  Travel is permitted after 24 hours without any incidents or neurological sequelae.
  Dependent on neurological assessment by the treating physician.
• Stroke patients:
  Dependent on the assessment of neurology and neurosurgery.
  Travel is permitted after a minimum of 14 days post hospitalization.

Other medical conditions

• Decompression sickness (in divers):
  You may travel 2 days after your last dive.
• Diabetes:
  Your medical condition must be under control.
  No medical certificate required.

Passengers unfit to travel

Passengers with the following medical conditions will not be allowed to travel:

• Infectious diseases such as rubella, measles, chickenpox or active tuberculosis.
• Untreated, large pneumothorax or hemothorax.
• Untreated intracranial hypertension.
• Pregnancy with acute fetal distress.
• Mandibular wired clasp without tools for removal.
• Unstable angina pectoris.
• Active infectious process in the ear or paranasal sinuses without treatment.
• Untreated acute myocardial infarction or stroke.
• Severe chronic decompensated respiratory disease, dyspnea at rest.
• Decompensated hematological disease.
• Uncontrolled psychotic illness or any psychiatric pathology that presents a risk of self-harm or harm to others.
• Patients with extensive second and third degree burns, with compromised general condition.

Consult the complete Aerocivil guide for detailed information on restrictions for passengers with medical interventions or special health conditions.