Airlines transported almost 2,600 items for transplants in the first half of 2022

In the first half of this year, Brazilian airlines transported 2,581 items for transplantation (organs, tissues, supplies, and medical teams) free of charge on 1,640 flights, according to the National Transplant Center (CNT, in Portuguese), of the Ministry of Health. Considering the operation of the Brazilian Air Force (FAB, also in Portuguese), foreign airlines, land routes, and the postal service, 1,070 items were transported on 360 flights, which, added to the transport of airlines, total a movement of 3,651 items from January to June, in 2 thousand flights. In 2014, the Brazilian Association of Airlines (ABEAR, in Portuguese) launched the “Asas do Bem” program, carried out daily in the country by its members with the objective of publicizing the importance of free transportation of organs, tissues, medical teams, and materials. The contribution of commercial aviation to the transport of organs began in 2001. The effort currently includes, in addition to ABEAR and its associates, other airlines, the Ministry of Health (CNT), the Ministry of Infrastructure (National Secretariat of Civil Aviation – SAC), the Air Force Command (Brazilian Air Force – FAB, Department of Airspace Control – DECEA, and Air Navigation Management Center – CGNA), Brazil’s Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC, also in Portuguese), Infraero, concessionary airports, and the National Association of Airport Management Companies (ANEAA, in Portuguese). In 2018, ABEAR launched the “Asas do Bem” Journey, a series of in-person and online lectures to highlight the importance of organ donation and the contribution of aviation to make transplants viable. The presentations are made by publicist Alexandre Barroso, who has been transplanted three times, and have already toured 15 states and the Federal District, bringing together around 4,000 people at events promoted by hospitals, transplant centers, airlines, and social initiatives. In 2020, due to the pandemic of the new coronavirus, lives were held with Barroso and health professionals to promote the theme on Instagram and YouTube. – https://www.aeroflap.com.br/companhias-aereas-transportaram-quase-26-mil-itens-para-transplantes-no-1o-semestre-de-2022/