Hope Air

Founded in 1986, Hope Air is the only national charity that provides free flights to people who cannot afford travel costs to access specialized medical care outside their local area. According to the charity’s survey,  29% of patients would cancel or postpone their medical appointment without Hope Air’s assistance. In F2017, Hope Air provided 12,684 travel arrangements, of which 24% were for cancer patients, 9% for musculoskeletal disorders, 8% for cardiovascular disorders, 8% for nervous system disorders, and 5% for gastrointestinal disorders. The average total cost per travel arrangement was $283 in F2017. The cost is significantly lower than the average round-trip airfare cost of $625 as some travel arrangements were not flights and some of its airline partners donate seats. Since 1986, Hope Air has provided 132,102 flights to Canadians.