All Nippon Airways (ANA) will launch a new initiative, ANA Doctor On Board, on international flights beginning in September. Instead of using public cabin announcements to request medical assistance — which can alarm or disturb other passengers — flight crews will be able to discreetly contact pre-registered physicians who are already on board. The program is designed to speed up response times during in-flight medical emergencies and to reduce unnecessary public alerts.
Traveling physicians may register for the program starting in July for flights that begin in September. Registration is voluntary and does not obligate a physician to respond to an onboard incident. To enroll, physicians must provide proof of a valid medical license and hold an ANA Mileage Club membership. If no registered physicians are present on a flight, crews will continue to follow established emergency procedures.
In addition to the doctor registration system, ANA will give both crew and passengers clearer information about medical equipment available on each aircraft, helping doctors and attendants better treat existing conditions or injuries. Cabin crew will also be equipped with tablets offering medical translation software that covers medical terminology to support clear communication between crew, physicians, and passengers. ANA aims to have the translation tool operational by October, with support for 17 languages.
Under the program’s liability framework, if a passenger asserts injury or damage resulting from in-flight medical care, ANA will manage such claims directly, except in instances of willful misconduct or gross negligence by the attending physician. The airline says this arrangement is intended to streamline claim handling and provide both passengers and volunteer physicians with clearer protections.
The program emphasizes discretion, speed, and safety: registered doctors can be contacted without public announcement, crews will have better information about onboard medical resources, and language barriers should be reduced through translation software. ANA expects these measures to improve outcomes during medical incidents and to make responses less disruptive for all passengers.