SOURCE / ECONOMY
Airline drops fee charge on organ transportation to show goodwill
Published: Mar 21, 2021 12:33 PM
The human organ container posted by Chen Jingyu on Weibo

The human organ container posted by Chen Jingyu on Weibo



Sichuan Airlines responded to a doctor's query over the charge for organ transportation from the flight company, stating that the charge is now cancelled as a gesture of goodwill, but was initially made in accordance with the company's baggage policies, Jiemian reported on Saturday.

Chen Jingyu, deputy president of Wuxi People's Hospital in Jiangsu Province, said on Weibo on Friday that the size of the container for the donated lung, which was being transported from Beijing to Chengdu in Southwest China's Sichuan Province, had exceeded the maximum hand luggage size and therefore was charged according to excess baggage fees. 

Chen said the medical team bought a seat ticket for the box. He posted screenshots of related official policies for human organ transportation, and believed that Sichuan Airlines obeyed the country's policies. Sichuan Airlines responded to Jiemian on Saturday, stating that they had contacted the passenger and refunded the cost of the seat for the organ box.

Chen noted that it was the first time for him and his team to encounter charges for human organ flight transportation. He said he had transported human organs free-of-charge with other Chinese airlines, including Air China, China Southern Airlines, China Eastern Airlines and Shenzhen Airlines in the last five years. 

Sichuan Airlines said China currently has no official policy for free transportation of human organs. The refund for this ticket was made out of a gesture of goodwill, but prior to this, staff had carried out the process according to the company's baggage policies.

The baggage policies on the Sichuan Airlines website read that organ containers must be taken as carry-on luggage and be looked after by the person transporting them during the flight. Additional preparations, including the purchase of extra tickets, should be carried out if the size of the organ box exceeds the maximum hand luggage size. 

Jiemian pointed out that China's policy for organ transportation, posted by Chen, does not request that flight companies offer organ transportation free-of -charge. On the contrary, the organ container must follow flight companies' luggage transportation policies, including the purchase of an extra ticket, said the policy..

Jiemian suggested that China's airlines, including Air China and China Eastern Airlines, all have similar rules for buying extra tickets for over-sized organ containers. 

Sichuan Airlines said that to ensure the human organ can arrive at the hospital as soon as possible, the flight crew also request their landing in advance and saved 20 minutes' time.