The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is taking decisive steps to enhance the transport of human organs aboard commercial aircraft, aiming to establish consistent best practices and regulations that could save more lives.
In coordination with a broader U.S. government initiative to improve transplant accessibility, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services recently launched the Increasing Organ Transplant Access (IOTA) Model. This program, starting in July 2025, is designed to increase life-saving kidney transplants for patients suffering from end-stage renal disease while reducing costs to Medicare. A core component of the initiative includes incentivizing hospitals to increase their transplant rates.
To support this effort, the FAA has submitted a comprehensive final report to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), outlining current gaps and proposed improvements for transporting human organs by air. The report highlights the urgent need for standardized protocols across commercial airlines.
Currently, under regulations from the FAA, Transportation Security Administration (TSA), and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), human organs are permitted to be transported through airport security and onto airplanes. However, there are no federal restrictions governing whether an organ must be carried in the cabin or cargo hold, nor are there universal size, weight, or securement requirements. Each airline sets its own rules on how organs are handled, leading to inconsistencies and potential delays.
To address this, the FAA has created the Organ Transport Working Group, in line with Section 1102 of the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. The group’s purpose is to define national standards for organ transport by air.
@FAANews released the Organ Transportation Working Group’s recs on how to improve the transportation of organs on commercial airplanes. We’re pleased there’s alignment with some of our recs to strength the donation and transplant system✈️
Learn how improvements will reduce… https://t.co/2aId6vhdmM
— United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) (@UNOSNews) May 13, 2025
Under current classification rules, human organs are considered “cargo” whether they travel in the cabin or below. Medical couriers carrying fragile biological materials—such as organs, bone marrow, embryos, and eyeballs—are allowed to bring them through TSA checkpoints. They can request assistance from a supervisor or a Passenger Support Specialist (PSS) to ensure smooth and respectful handling.
The FAA’s 38-page report provides detailed recommendations based on organ type, weight, and urgency, and calls for the formation of a dedicated task force within 90 days. The goal is to formalize a set of regulations that prioritize safety, consistency, and timeliness—ultimately ensuring every donated organ has the best possible chance to reach its recipient in time.
With lives on the line, the FAA is looking to transform how the nation’s skies support the nation’s sickest patients.
