Thanks to the national advocacy efforts of the American Lung Association, the FAA will now allow passengers to bring on board their own portable oxygen concentrators for use during air travel beginning August, 11, 2005.

Prior to this new rule, more than one million Americans with COPD and other oxygen users encountered many obstacles when traveling by air. Rules about oxygen differed by air carrier and many carriers did not provide this service. Often patients were required to pay additional fees to rent oxygen equipment during the flight but still had to arrange for oxygen during layovers and their final destination.

While this new rule is not a mandate, it represents a significant victory for patients who use oxygen.
Click here to read the details of this new rule.

Read more from the American Lung Association’s President and CEO.