What Is the Lufthansa Patient Transport Compartment?
The PTC is a modular ICU unit built into the rear cabin of a Lufthansa aircraft. It accommodates ventilated patients with ICU-grade monitoring, infusion management, and a full medical team (doctor + nurse). It operates on selected Lufthansa intercontinental routes, most relevantly Frankfurt (FRA) to Delhi (DEL) and Frankfurt to Mumbai (BOM). The PTC requires a minimum 5-day booking lead time and is subject to Lufthansa Medical Operations approval.
When Is the PTC the Right Choice?
The PTC is appropriate for critically ill or ventilated patients requiring intercontinental transfer who cannot tolerate a 9-10 hour flight in an ALS stretcher configuration, but where a dedicated long-range charter is cost-prohibitive. Indicative PTC cost: EUR 30,000-50,000 depending on route and configuration, compared to EUR 80,000-150,000+ for a dedicated MEDEVAC jet from Europe to India.
Routes Available from India
Lufthansa PTC operates primarily through Frankfurt (FRA). From India, the relevant routes are Delhi (DEL) - Frankfurt and Mumbai (BOM) - Frankfurt, with onward connections. For repatriation to India, the patient travels Frankfurt to Delhi or Mumbai.
Our PTC Expertise
Goodmans Rescue has documented operational knowledge of PTC arrangements, including Lufthansa Medical Operations' specific MEDIF requirements, the medical criteria for PTC acceptance (ventilator settings, drug protocols, monitoring parameters), preparation of the patient summary in the format Lufthansa Medical requires, and coordination of ground transport at both FRA and DEL ends.
MEDIF Documentation for Lufthansa
Lufthansa requires a completed MEDIF form, a detailed patient medical report, current medication and infusion protocol, ventilator settings, and a statement from the treating physician confirming the patient's stability for the intended flight. We assist with preparing and reviewing all documentation before submission to Lufthansa Medical Operations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Lufthansa Medical Operations requires a minimum of 5 working days notice for PTC bookings, and longer for complex cases. Early contact is essential. Call us immediately and we begin the Lufthansa approval process in parallel with your own preparations.
No. PTC operates on specific Lufthansa long-haul routes, primarily through Frankfurt (FRA). For other intercontinental destinations, a dedicated charter or commercial stretcher (where available) is the alternative.
A dedicated MEDEVAC charter is a private aircraft with ICU configuration flying directly between any two airports. PTC uses a Lufthansa commercial aircraft on its scheduled route. PTC is substantially cheaper but requires booking via Lufthansa Medical Operations and is subject to route availability. A dedicated charter is more flexible but more expensive.
Yes. We manage the Lufthansa documentation preparation, submission to Lufthansa Medical Operations, medical crew briefing, ground ambulance at IGI Airport, and receiving hospital coordination in India. We have done this before and understand the specific process.