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Pregnant women

Read our guidelines for travelling while pregnant, to ensure a more safe and comfortable journey.

While it is generally safe to fly while pregnant, we advise all pregnant passengers to consult their treating doctor or midwife before planning a trip. It is recommended that all pregnant passengers carry documentation stating the expected date of delivery whilst travelling.

Acceptance of pregnant passengers

Passengers with uncomplicated pregnancy, who have reached their 28th week, should refer to the table below to understand all the requirements and certificates needed to ensure acceptance onboard our flights.

Passengers with complicated pregnancies, or who experience medical complications during their travels, please read the details on complicated pregnancies further below on this page.

For your safety, Cathay Pacific Airways reserves the right to deny boarding under the following circumstances:

  • if you are not carrying a medical certificate
  • if your medical certificate is outdated or does not contain the information required
Pregnancy details Pregnancy stage Medical certificate required* MEDA form required
Uncomplicated single pregnancy Before 28th week No No
28th - 36th week Yes 
(Certificate must be dated within 10 days of the initial outbound travel date)		 No
After 36th week
(i.e. 35 weeks + 7 days)		 Not accepted onboard
Uncomplicated multiple pregnancy Before 28th week No No
28th - 32th week Yes
(Certificate must be dated within 10 days of the initial outbound travel date)
 No
After 32th week
(i.e. 31 weeks + 7 days)		 Not accepted onboard

* An English medical certificate is required, stating:

  • whether it is a single or multiple pregnancy
  • the estimated week of pregnancy
  • the expected date of delivery (EDD)
  • that you are in good health and the pregnancy is progressing normally, without complications
  • that you are fit to travel

Acceptance of passengers with complicated pregnancies

For passengers with complicated pregnancies (i.e. pregnancy with any form of complication), acceptance to travel will depend on clinical information stated in the MEDA form and reviewed by our Company Aviation Medical Team on case by case basis – medical clearance from our medical team is required prior to travel. Please ensure you and your treating doctor complete our MEDA form and submit it no later than 48 hours prior to your planned departure.

It is recommended to have health insurance / travel insurance to cover pregnancy-related problems for your travels. You should also check whether the medical facilities at the destination country are adequate to cope with any problems which may arise during your visit and avoid travelling to remote locations whilst pregnant.

If you require medications during your pregnancy, you must have an adequate supply for the journey. Please remember that certain medications, such as some types of malaria prophylaxis and vaccinations, cannot be used during pregnancy. If the destination country requires such prophylaxis, it may be better to postpone the journey until after your pregnancy.

Some countries place limitations on the entry of non-national pregnant women. It is advisable to check with the local consulate to confirm the country specific requirements.

Travel after delivery

Medical clearance is required for passengers travelling within 7 days of their delivery date. Infants cannot travel for 48 hours after birth and need medical clearance to travel between 3 and 7 days after delivery.

You can obtain further information from your obstetrician or midwife, or from the website of the US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, Link opens in a new window operated by external parties and may not conform to the same accessibility policies as Cathay Pacific.

More about help for passengers

Helpful links