Bed-to-Bed Air Ambulance: How an International Transfer Works
From the hospital bed in one country to the hospital bed in another, with one team responsible for the whole journey. A guide for families, hospitals, insurers and employers.
A bed-to-bed air ambulance transfer moves a patient from a hospital bed in one country to a hospital bed in another. One coordinator arranges the ground ambulances, the aircraft, the medical team, the permits and the handover. Between India and the United Arab Emirates a private ICU jet costs about ₹27 lakh to ₹45 lakh. International flights usually depart within 6 to 12 hours of the first enquiry, because overflight and landing permits have to be obtained first.
The six steps of a bed-to-bed transfer
Every international transfer runs through the same six steps. Several of them happen at the same time, which is how a flight can leave within hours.
Medical review and acceptance
Our medical team reviews the patient’s summary with the treating doctor. The receiving hospital confirms a bed and an accepting doctor.
Documents and clearances
Passports and visas are checked, the fit-to-fly certificate is prepared, and overflight and landing permits are requested. The insurer is contacted where a policy applies.
Aircraft and equipment
An aircraft is chosen for the distance and the airports at each end, and fitted with the ventilator, monitor and pumps the patient needs.
Bedside pick-up
A ground ambulance and the flight medical team collect the patient at the bedside, take the handover from the hospital team and prepare the patient for the flight.
Care in flight
The team monitors and treats the patient throughout. Oxygen is planned for the flight, the ground journeys and a reserve.
Handover at the receiving hospital
An ambulance meets the aircraft, and the team hands over the patient and the medical records at the bedside. The family is told when the patient has arrived.
How to start, and what to have ready on the first call: how to book an air ambulance.
Private air ambulance, airline stretcher or medical escort
Not every international transfer needs a private aircraft. The patient’s condition decides which of these are possible; the time available and the price decide between them.
| Option | Suits | Notice needed | India ↔ UAE | India ↔ UK |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Private ICU air ambulance | A critical, ventilated or time-critical patient | Usually 6 to 12 hours, for permits | ₹27–45 lakh | ₹60 lakh–1.05 crore+ |
| Commercial airline stretcher | A stable patient who must lie flat | Airline clearance, 48 to 72 hours or more | ₹7.5–15 lakh | ₹15–27.5 lakh |
| Medical escort, airline seat | A stable patient who can sit upright | Airline clearance, usually 48 to 72 hours | ₹5–8.75 lakh | ₹10–20 lakh |
The airline options in detail: commercial airline stretcher service and Bring You Home, a business-class medical escort.
Aircraft used on international transfers
We arrange the aircraft from operators whose aircraft are equipped for medical flights. Distance decides the class: a turboprop or light jet for neighbouring countries and the Gulf, a large-cabin jet for South-East Asia, the Middle East and Europe, and an ultra-long-range jet for the longest legs.
Photos show examples of each type. Maximum range is the manufacturer’s figure in still air; with a patient, a medical team, equipment and fuel reserves on board the practical range is shorter, so long transfers are planned with a fuel stop. More aircraft and full figures: air ambulance aircraft.
What is on board
On every private air ambulance
- Transport ventilator
- Cardiac monitor with defibrillator
- Infusion and syringe pumps
- Medical oxygen, with a reserve
- Suction and airway equipment
- Emergency medicines
Arranged case by case
- A neonatal transport incubator
- An isolation unit for an infectious patient
- Any other specialised support, assessed by the medical team for the case
Tell us early if the patient needs any of these, because not every aircraft can carry them.
Permits, visas and paperwork
An international medical flight needs permission from every country it flies over and lands in, and the patient still needs the right to enter the destination country.
What we arrange
- Overflight and landing permits
- Ground ambulances at both ends
- Airport handling, customs and immigration assistance
- Liaison with the receiving hospital
- Airline medical clearance, if the patient travels on an airline
What you provide
- Passports for the patient and anyone travelling with them
- Visas, where the destination country requires them
- A medical summary and fit-to-fly certificate from the treating doctor
- An acceptance letter from the receiving hospital
- Insurance policy details, if a policy applies
For treatment in India, patients apply online for an e-Medical visa, and up to two companions for an e-Medical Attendant visa, on India’s official e-Visa portal. More on visas and hospitals: medical tourism in India. For other countries, the embassy decides; we check the requirements for the route when the transfer is planned.
Medical records are shared only with the medical teams, hospitals, insurers and authorities involved in the transfer.
What an international transfer costs
Indicative ranges by corridor. Every transfer is medically assessed and quoted in writing before you confirm.
| Corridor | Private ICU jet | Commercial stretcher | Medical escort, airline seat |
|---|---|---|---|
| India ↔ Nepal | ₹18–30 lakh | ₹3.75–7.5 lakh | ₹2.5–5 lakh |
| India ↔ Bangladesh | ₹18–30 lakh | ₹3.75–7.5 lakh | ₹2.5–5 lakh |
| India ↔ Sri Lanka | ₹22.5–37.5 lakh | ₹5–8.75 lakh | ₹3.75–6.25 lakh |
| India ↔ Thailand | ₹27–45 lakh | ₹7.5–12.5 lakh | ₹5–8.75 lakh |
| India ↔ Malaysia | ₹27–45 lakh | ₹7.5–12.5 lakh | ₹5–8.75 lakh |
| India ↔ Singapore | ₹30–52.5 lakh | ₹7.5–15 lakh | ₹5–10 lakh |
| India ↔ United Arab Emirates | ₹27–45 lakh | ₹7.5–15 lakh | ₹5–8.75 lakh |
| India ↔ Saudi Arabia | ₹30–52.5 lakh | ₹8.75–16.25 lakh | ₹6.25–10 lakh |
| India ↔ Qatar | ₹30–52.5 lakh | ₹8.75–16.25 lakh | ₹6.25–10 lakh |
| India ↔ Europe | ₹52.5–97.5 lakh+ | ₹12.5–25 lakh | ₹8.75–18.75 lakh |
| India ↔ United Kingdom | ₹60 lakh–1.05 crore+ | ₹15–27.5 lakh | ₹10–20 lakh |
| India ↔ United States | ₹1.05–2.25 crore+ | ₹25–50 lakh | ₹18.75–37.5 lakh |
Routes within India and helicopter prices: air ambulance cost by route.
What goes into the price
Flying time
The aircraft is charged by the hour, so distance and aircraft type set most of the price.
Positioning
The aircraft often flies empty to reach the patient, and back to base afterwards.
Medical team and equipment
A doctor, nurse or paramedic matched to the patient, and the equipment for the case.
Ground ambulances
One at each end, quoted as a separate line so the total is clear.
Permits and airport fees
Overflight and landing permits, handling, customs and immigration charges.
Fuel stops
On the longest routes, a stop to refuel adds time and cost.
Four ways to keep the cost down without cutting care
Pick the aircraft for the distance
A long-range jet is not needed for a short international hop. A smaller aircraft with one stop can cost much less.
Use an airline if the patient is stable
A medical escort or an airline stretcher costs a fraction of a private aircraft when the patient’s condition allows it.
Send full details at the start
A complete medical summary and the exact hospitals avoid a change of aircraft or team, and a second quote.
Call the insurer early
Ask what the policy covers and whether approval is needed before the flight.
International transfer checklist
Three lists to work through, for families and for employers or insurers handling a case. Print this page or save it.
Documents
- Passport and visa status
- Medical records and imaging
- Current list of medicines
- Treating doctor’s name and number
- Receiving hospital and accepting doctor
- Emergency contacts
Insurance
- Policy number and the insurer’s emergency line
- What the policy covers, and its limit
- Whether approval is needed before the flight
- Who pays first, and how the claim is made
- Guarantee letter, if the insurer issues one
Family
- Who travels with the patient
- Flights and visas for other family members
- Somewhere to stay near the receiving hospital
- One person to take calls from the coordinator
- How the payment will be made
For the fastest start, have these five ready
- Passport details of the patient
- Medical summary from the treating doctor
- Name of the receiving hospital and its acceptance
- Insurance policy number, if any
- A family contact who can decide quickly
How fast can a flight leave?
International flights usually depart within 6 to 12 hours of the first enquiry. The aircraft and the medical team can be ready sooner; the permits take the time. A planned transfer with a known date gives the widest choice of aircraft and usually the best price.
Get a bed-to-bed quote
Tell us where the patient is and where they need to go. We reply with the options that are medically suitable and a written price for each. For an emergency, please call.
Talk to us, 24/7
- Call or WhatsApp +91 98112 76859
- Call or WhatsApp +91 78400 00473
- Call or WhatsApp +91 98116 73015
- Emailinfo@safefly.aero
By region: Middle East, Europe, Americas, Africa, Central Asia.
Bed-to-bed transfers: common questions
What does bed-to-bed mean?
Bed-to-bed means one provider is responsible for the whole journey: from the patient’s hospital bed, by ground ambulance to the aircraft, through the flight with a medical team, and by ambulance to the bed in the receiving hospital. The family does not have to arrange any part of it separately.
How quickly can an international air ambulance leave?
International flights usually depart within 6 to 12 hours of the first enquiry. The aircraft and the medical team can be ready sooner, but overflight and landing permits have to be obtained first. Having the passport details, the medical summary and the receiving hospital’s acceptance ready saves the most time.
How much does an international air ambulance cost?
A private ICU jet costs about ₹27 lakh to ₹45 lakh between India and the United Arab Emirates, ₹60 lakh to ₹1.05 crore or more between India and the United Kingdom, and ₹1.05 crore to ₹2.25 crore or more between India and the United States. A stable patient can travel for much less on a scheduled airline. These are indicative ranges reviewed in October 2026; every transfer is quoted in writing.
Do patients need a visa for an emergency medical transfer?
Usually yes. A medical emergency does not remove the destination country’s visa rules, though some embassies can speed up a visa in urgent cases. For treatment in India, patients apply online for an e-Medical visa, and up to two companions for an e-Medical Attendant visa. We check the requirements for the route when the transfer is planned.
Can family members travel with the patient?
Usually one relative can travel on a private air ambulance, and sometimes two on a larger jet. It depends on the aircraft and on the medical equipment in the cabin. Other family members can follow on a scheduled flight.
Who is in the medical team?
A doctor, nurse or paramedic matched to the patient’s condition. A ventilated or unstable patient travels with a critical-care doctor. The team takes a handover from the treating hospital and stays with the patient until the handover at the receiving hospital.
How is the destination airport chosen?
We choose the airport closest to the receiving hospital that the aircraft can use and that has customs and immigration for an international arrival. A smaller airport nearer the hospital is used when it shortens the ambulance journey.
Can a stable patient travel on a commercial flight instead?
Yes. A stable patient can travel on a scheduled airline with a medical escort, or on a stretcher fitted in the cabin if they must lie flat. The airline has to give medical clearance first, usually 48 to 72 hours before departure. It costs far less than a private air ambulance.
Need to move a patient between countries?
Call or WhatsApp with the patient’s location, destination and condition. We tell you which options are medically suitable, how soon each can leave and what each costs.
Also call or WhatsApp +91 78400 00473 or +91 98116 73015. Email info@safefly.aero.
Written and reviewed by Safe Fly Aviation’s air ambulance operations and medical coordination team. This guide is general information. The treating doctor decides whether a patient is fit to travel.