&ensp; What are the options for medical repatriation?

Once a patient is medically fit to travel , SkyCare offers a range of repatriation services to ensure a safe and clinically managed journey to or from the UK. Services can be arranged individually or combined to suit each patient’s specific needs. We provide: Private air ambulance repatriation for critical, non-critical, paediatric , and neonatal patients — with three levels of care tailored to individual requirements. Commercial flight repatriation with a medical escort, or stretcher service where appropriate and airline-approved. Whatever your situation, SkyCare will match the safest transport option to the patient’s needs — quickly, discreetly, and with full medical oversight.

&ensp; How much does medical repatriation cost?

The cost of medical repatriation depends on several key factors: The patient’s condition and the level of medical staff required to ensure safe care. The distance between the pick-up location and the destination. Whether transport is by air ambulance . If flying, whether the transfer is by private aircraft or on a commercial flight with a medical escort . The distance to and from the airport (for air transfers). Any specialist equipment or interventions required during the journey. Our team ensures every repatriation is managed safely and cost-effectively — without ever compromising on patient care. For an accurate estimate, contact us or complete a Quick Quotation Request and we’ll respond promptly.

How does the medical repatriation process work?

The Medical Repatriation Process It starts with your initial call or message — our team will offer guidance, answer questions, and explain your options. We’ll review the patient’s condition, care needs, and travel requirements, then advise on the safest and most appropriate transport options. You complete our Quotation Request Form . Once all details are received, we’ll provide a clear, fixed-price quote (commercial clients may submit referrals via email). When the quote is accepted, planning begins immediately — our operations team coordinates every detail from departure to arrival. We liaise with the patient’s doctors to assess medical readiness and tailor the transport plan to their clinical needs. All travel logistics are arranged — including ambulances, equipment, aircrew, and escorts — for a smooth, safe transfer. A flight plan is filed, the aircraft and crew are prepared, and final safety checks are completed. Before departure, our medical team conducts a final Fit to Fly assessment to confirm the patient remains stable and cleared for transport. Throughout the journey, our team monitors progress in real time — keeping families, receiving hospitals, and road crews updated at every stage. After arrival, we follow up with the patient, family, and staff involved — ensuring a complete handover and feedback for continuous improvement.

East Asia to UK Air Ambulance & Private Medical Flights

Q: &ensp; How much does a commercial stretcher flight cost between East Asia and the UK?

The cost of a commercial stretcher flight between East Asia and the UK varies significantly and is influenced by several factors — including departure city, airline seat availability, and the airline’s internal medical clearance process. Not all commercial carriers in the region offer stretcher support, and those that do typically restrict it to major airports such as Beijing (PEK) , Shanghai (PVG) , Tokyo Narita (NRT) , or Hong Kong (HKG) . These flights often route via European hubs. As a guide, costs can range from £35,000 to over £70,000 , depending on the route, season, and airline charges. Medical clearance is mandatory and must be granted by the airline’s medical department — even if the patient already has a local doctor’s fit-to-fly certificate. Read our fit-to-fly guide for more detail. This approval process can take several days and must be completed before tickets are confirmed. Because airline fares fluctuate daily, it’s common for prices to increase during the time it takes to secure medical clearance. For a real-world explanation of how these variables affect cost, see our article: Medical Escort Pricing Explained . To receive a personalised stretcher flight quote, contact our team or request a quote online .

Air Ambulance & Medical Repatriation from the East Asia

Urgent medical flights and air ambulance from the East Asia to the UK

Air Ambulance & Medical Flights Between East Asia and the UK

SkyCare provides urgent medical repatriation services across East Asia — including private air ambulances, commercial medical escorts, and international stretcher flights to and from the UK.

This regional hub page supports families, hospitals, insurers, and embassies across East Asia — from China, Japan, and South Korea to Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, and beyond.

Whether you’re helping a patient at home, in a local hospital, or at an international clinic, our UK-based team provides discreet, clinically led transfers into trusted private hospitals in London or anywhere in the UK.

Not sure where to begin? Visit one of our dedicated country pages for airport information, service options, and pricing:

China
Japan
South Korea
Hong Kong
Taiwan
Macau
Mongolia

We handle everything — from medical clearances and ICU escorts to fast-track UK admissions and private airport arrivals in London.

Need urgent support? Request a quote or call our 24/7 team today.

Flags of East Asia including China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macau representing medical repatriation services to and from the UK

Popular Airports

Beijing Capital International Airport (PEK)

^*10:15

Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG)

^*12:30

Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

^*13:10

Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)

^*15:15

Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN)

^*12:45

^*Flight time from Biggin Hill Airport

Fast Medical Flights & Air Ambulance from East Asia

SkyCare provides rapid-response medical repatriation between East Asia and the UK — including private air ambulances, stretcher flights, and commercial medical escorts with qualified clinicians. Whether the patient is in a hospital, clinic, hotel, or private residence, our multilingual team coordinates every detail from bedside to arrival at a UK hospital or home. We’re trusted by families, hospitals, insurers, and embassies across China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and beyond.

FAQs – Medical Flights Between East Asia and the UK

To begin, simply use our secure online quotation form or contact our team directly. Our UK-based medical specialists will assess your situation and design a tailored repatriation plan. This includes guidance on visas and travel documents, available flight options, and coordination with your chosen UK hospital or care facility.

Once you approve the quotation, we handle every detail — from arranging ground transport and securing clearances to providing continuous clinical care during the journey. Our priority is to take the burden off your shoulders, so you can focus on supporting your loved one.

Once a patient is medically fit to travel, SkyCare offers a range of repatriation services to ensure a safe and clinically managed journey to or from the UK. Services can be arranged individually or combined to suit each patient’s specific needs.

We provide:

Private air ambulance repatriation for critical, non-critical, paediatric, and neonatal patients — with three levels of care tailored to individual requirements.
Commercial flight repatriation with a medical escort, or stretcher service where appropriate and airline-approved.

Whatever your situation, SkyCare will match the safest transport option to the patient’s needs — quickly, discreetly, and with full medical oversight.

The cost of medical repatriation depends on several key factors:

The patient’s condition and the level of medical staff required to ensure safe care.
The distance between the pick-up location and the destination.
Whether transport is by air ambulance.
If flying, whether the transfer is by private aircraft or on a commercial flight with a medical escort.
The distance to and from the airport (for air transfers).
Any specialist equipment or interventions required during the journey.

Our team ensures every repatriation is managed safely and cost-effectively — without ever compromising on patient care. For an accurate estimate, contact us or complete a Quick Quotation Request and we’ll respond promptly.

The Medical Repatriation Process

It starts with your initial call or message — our team will offer guidance, answer questions, and explain your options.
We’ll review the patient’s condition, care needs, and travel requirements, then advise on the safest and most appropriate transport options.
You complete our Quotation Request Form. Once all details are received, we’ll provide a clear, fixed-price quote (commercial clients may submit referrals via email).
When the quote is accepted, planning begins immediately — our operations team coordinates every detail from departure to arrival.
We liaise with the patient’s doctors to assess medical readiness and tailor the transport plan to their clinical needs.
All travel logistics are arranged — including ambulances, equipment, aircrew, and escorts — for a smooth, safe transfer.
A flight plan is filed, the aircraft and crew are prepared, and final safety checks are completed.
Before departure, our medical team conducts a final Fit to Fly assessment to confirm the patient remains stable and cleared for transport.
Throughout the journey, our team monitors progress in real time — keeping families, receiving hospitals, and road crews updated at every stage.
After arrival, we follow up with the patient, family, and staff involved — ensuring a complete handover and feedback for continuous improvement.

SkyCare can often arrange air ambulance flights between East Asia and the UK within 24 hours, depending on the patient’s medical stability, airport slot availability, and weather conditions. We regularly operate from major international airports including Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Seoul — and can also access regional airports serving remote areas or outbound travellers. Every case is assessed and managed by our clinical team to ensure a safe, timely departure.

If your loved one is hospitalised abroad without nearby family support, bringing them home once they are medically stable is often the best option. This is especially important after accidents, illness, or trauma, when recovery and care are better managed closer to home.

Once the patient has completed treatment and is considered stable, repatriation can usually proceed. To understand what makes someone fit to fly, see our quick guide.

If the patient is insured, families should contact the insurer first. However, many choose to self-fund medical repatriation to avoid delays. In these cases, SkyCare can often arrange a dedicated air ambulance within 24 hours.

Commercial medical escort and stretcher flights are also available but may take longer to arrange due to airline logistics and medical clearance.

The cost of a commercial stretcher flight between East Asia and the UK varies significantly and is influenced by several factors — including departure city, airline seat availability, and the airline’s internal medical clearance process.

Not all commercial carriers in the region offer stretcher support, and those that do typically restrict it to major airports such as Beijing (PEK), Shanghai (PVG), Tokyo Narita (NRT), or Hong Kong (HKG). These flights often route via European hubs. As a guide, costs can range from £35,000 to over £70,000, depending on the route, season, and airline charges.

Medical clearance is mandatory and must be granted by the airline’s medical department — even if the patient already has a local doctor’s fit-to-fly certificate. Read our fit-to-fly guide for more detail. This approval process can take several days and must be completed before tickets are confirmed.

Because airline fares fluctuate daily, it’s common for prices to increase during the time it takes to secure medical clearance. For a real-world explanation of how these variables affect cost, see our article: Medical Escort Pricing Explained.

To receive a personalised stretcher flight quote, contact our team or request a quote online.

Citizens of many East Asian countries now require either a Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) or a visa to enter the UK for medical treatment. The process is generally straightforward, and SkyCare can guide you through each step.

You will need a valid passport and the appropriate travel authorisation before departure. The ETA currently costs £16 and can be applied for online. Always check the latest official guidance to confirm entry requirements for your nationality.

Yes — repatriation of neonates, premature babies, and children is one of SkyCare’s core specialities. We’re among the few providers globally equipped to transport twins together, and we offer dedicated clinical support for even the most delicate cases.

Our UK-based paediatric team will advise you on the safest time to travel and the most appropriate method — whether that’s a private ICU-equipped air ambulance or a medically escorted commercial flight for babies and children who meet airline medical criteria.

From neonatal incubators and paediatric ventilators to specially trained flight nurses, we manage every detail with precision, care, and reassurance for parents and families.

Need Immediate Air Ambulance or Medical Repatriation To or From East Asia?

SkyCare provides private air ambulance, commercial medical escort, and stretcher flight services between East Asia and the UK, available 24/7. Whether you’re supporting a loved one, managing a case from Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, Cotai Strip, or Taipei — or urgently need expert guidance — our UK-based medical team is here to help.

We offer complete bed-to-bed medical evacuation between East Asia and the UK — from ICU-equipped air ambulance flights for critical cases to stretcher or escorted commercial flights for stable patients.

We respond within minutes — and manage every detail with clarity, compassion, and clinical precision.

Get Your Medical Repatriation Quote