Virgin Atlantic & CardioSecur Team Up To Improve Onboard Medical Safety

The compact ECG machine developed by CardioSecur will be rolled out across Virgin Atlantic's entire fleet.

Virgin Atlantic has unveiled a new partnership with German medical tech firm CardioSecur to bolster its in-flight medical safety equipment.

Announced on Friday, the new partnership will strengthen the London Heathrow-based carrier's electrocardiogram (ECG) services in-flight to ensure continued customer safety. Virgin Atlantic was the first airline in the world to have a fully ECG-equipped fleet and remains the only UK-based carrier to offer 12 lead ECG in-flight capabilities; however, the airline has outlined its commitments to improving its medical support even further.

From May 19, all flights will be equipped with CardioSecur's mobile ECG system, allowing trained cabin crew members to transmit the machine's readings to a ground-based medical service to ensure affected passengers receive the proper support.

In-flight health incidents remain rare, though cardiovascular events are typically the most common cause of medical diversions. Limited or delayed access to correct treatment can worsen symptoms, with some airlines looking for alternate ways to alleviate issues until the passenger is on the ground.

An ECG, or electrocardiogram, records the heart's electrical signals, allowing for a simple, non-invasive exam of the heart's rhythm to identify potential issues. The CardioSecur system is distinct from the airlines' previous offerings. Weighing just 50 grams, the compact system can be stored easily while providing comprehensive support when required.

Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic's Chief Customer and Operations Officer, explained,

"Our work with CardioSecur underpins our continued commitment to customer health, which will always be our top priority. We were proud to be the first airline in the world to have a fully ECG equipped fleet and we’ve continued to remain at the forefront of aviation medicine.

"The upgrade to this new state of the art mobile ECG capability on board of all our aircraft clearly demonstrates further leadership in shaping the future of customer health and I’m proud to be the first UK airline to offer CardioSecur's new kit."

Virgin Atlantic first installed ECG machines on its fleet in 2003, following in the footsteps of British Midlands International (BMI), which came to prominence after utilizing an ECG machine on a transatlantic service to save the life of a passenger experiencing a heart attack. Virgin Atlantic quickly expanded to include ECG machines across its entire fleet through the early 2000s.

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All Virgin Atlantic cabin crew members are required to undertake intensive safety training while attending the airline's flight school to ensure all possible medical emergencies are covered. As reported by The Daily Express in 2020, Virgin Atlantic cabin crew member Otis noted in a live video on the carrier's social media account that safety and emergency procedure training extends from dealing with fainting or cardiovascular events to administering medication and delivering babies. Each aircraft is fully equipped to offer basic first aid for minor injuries, though ECG and advanced medical equipment are available for serious incidents.

What are your thoughts on Virgin Atlantic's new medical partnership? What other ways would you like to see airlines support passengers? Let us know in the comments.

Sources: The Times, The Daily Express

Journalist - With a degree in journalism, Molly joins the team with an interest in aviation's history, and its impact on politics, society, and culture. Molly has experience as a digital correspondent with Sky News. Based in Surrey, United Kingdom