Southwest Airlines Medical Flight Network Awards Nearly $5.2 Million in Donated Flights, Bringing Patients Closer to Life-Changing Care
Published September 22, 2026
Today, Southwest Airlines announced nearly $5.2 million in donated flights across 83 hospitals and medical transportation organizations through its Medical Flight Network for the 2026-2027 grant year– the largest single cohort in the program’s history. The Medical Flight Network connects patients to life-changing medical care through the gift of travel.
Since its inception in 2007, the Southwest Airlines® Medical Flight Network has donated approximately $66.7 million in travel across 50 cities and 30 states. By providing free round-trip flights for patients and caregivers, the program helps those in need reach specialized treatment during some of the most critical moments in their health journey.
Introducing Our Founding Partner Advisory Council
Southwest also announced its inaugural Medical Flight Network Partner Advisory Council. The Council will serve as a collaborative forum for hospitals and medical transportation organizations to share insights, discuss emerging patient needs, and help shape the future of the Medical Flight Network. Through their participation, members will provide feedback that strengthens the program, expands access to care, and enhances the impact of Southwest's investment in patient travel nationwide.
Inaugural Advisory Council Members:
Angel Flight Central, Inc.
Craig Hospital
Dell Children's Hospital
Kapiʻolani Medical Center for Women & Children
Miracle Flights
Rady Children's Hospital San Diego
Rush University Medical Center
Scottish Rite for Children
Shepherd Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
UCLA Health
Ryker’s Story: 10 Years of Flying for Lifesaving Care
Few stories better illustrate the impact of the Medical Flight Network than that of 11-year-old Ryker. Born with a rare condition that left his intestines outside his body, Ryker has required ongoing, specialized medical care since infancy. At 11 months old, he began intestinal rehabilitation at Boston Children’s Hospital – more than 1,600 miles from his hometown of Wichita, Kansas.
Through Children’s Flight of Hope, a Medical Flight Network partner organization, Ryker and his family have access to Southwest-donated travel for the ongoing treatment he receives in Boston. Nearly 10 years later, those journeys continue at no cost to the family, ensuring Ryker can access the treatment he needs.
Our Purpose in Action
The Medical Flight Network is Southwest’s largest community outreach investment, and it continues to bring our Purpose to life by connecting People to what’s important in their lives. To learn more about the program or this year’s grant partners, visit Southwest.com/MedicalFlightNetwork.
Thank You to Our 2026–2027 Grant Partners
Angel Flight NE, Medical Transportation Charity, BOS
Angel Flight West, Medical Transportation Charity, LAX
Angel Flight Central, Inc., Medical Transportation Charity, MCI
Banner Health, Hospital, PHX
Barnes-Jewish Hospital, Hospital, STL
Boston Children's Hospital, Hospital, BOS
Castle Medical Center, Hospital, HNL
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Hospital, BUR
Children's Flight of Hope, Medical Transportation Charity, RDU
Children's Hospital Colorado, Hospital, DEN
Children's Hospital Los Angeles, Hospital, BUR
Children's Hospital of Alabama, Hospital, BHM
Children's Hospital of Orange County, Hospital, SNA
Children's Medical Center Dallas, Hospital, DAL
Children's Mercy Hospital, Hospital, MCI
Children's National Hospital, Hospital, DCA
Children's Nebraska, Hospital, OMA
Children's Wisconsin, Hospital, MKE
CHRISTUS Children's, Hospital, SAT
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Hospital, CVG
City of Hope Cancer Center Atlanta, Hospital, ATL
Cleveland Clinic, Hospital, CLE
Cohen Children's Medical Center (CCMC), Hospital, LGA
Compass to Care Childhood Cancer Foundation, Medical Transportation Charity, ORD
Cook Children's Medical Center, Hospital, DAL
Craig Hospital, Hospital, DEN
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Hospital, BOS
Dell Children's Medical Center, Hospital, AUS
Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, Hospital, MSP
Intermountain Health, Hospital, SLC
Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, Hospital, TPA
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Hospital, BWI
Kapiolani Medical Center for Women & Children, Hospital, HNL
Kennedy Krieger Institute, Hospital, BWI
Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Hospital, SJC
Massachusetts General Hospital, Hospital, BOS
Mayo Clinic, Hospital, PHX
MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Hospital, DCA
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Hospital, LGA
Mercy Medical Angels, Medical Transportation Charity, ORF
Mercy Medical Center, Hospital, BWI
Miracle Flights, Medical Transportation Charity, LAS
myFace (National Foundation for Facial Reconstruction), Hospital, LGA
Nationwide Children's Hospital, Hospital, CMH
Nebraska Medicine, Hospital, OMA
Nemours Children's Health, Hospital, JAX
North Shore University Hospital (NSUH), Hospital, LGA
NYU Langone Health, Hospital, LGA
Ochsner Health, Hospital, MSY
Phoenix Children's Hospital, Hospital, PHX
Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center, Hospital, RDU
Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Hospital, SAN
Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, Hospital, STL
Rush University Medical Center, Hospital, MDW
Scottish Rite for Children, Hospital, DAL
Scripps Health, Hospital, SAN
Seattle Children's Hospital, Hospital, SEA
Shepherd Center, Hospital, ATL
Shriners Children's, Hospital, TPA
SkyHope, Medical Transportation Charity, ISP
SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, Hospital, STL
St. Joseph's Hospital, Hospital, PHX
St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Hospital, MEM
St. Louis Children's Hospital, Hospital, STL
St. Luke's Health, Hospital, HOU
Stanford Health Care, Hospital, SJC
Texas Children's Hospital, Hospital, HOU
The Queen's Medical Center, Hospital, HNL
The University of Chicago Medical Center, Hospital, MDW
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Hospital, HOU
Translational Pulmonary & Immunology Research Center, Hospital, LGB
UCHealth, Hospital, DEN
UCLA Health, Hospital, LAX
UCSF Benioff Children's Hospitals, Hospital, OAK
University Health, Hospital, SAT
University Medical Center, Hospital, LBB
University of Illinois Hospital & Health Sciences System, Hospital, MDW
University of Miami Health System, Hospital, MIA
University of Minnesota Medical Center, Hospital, MSP
University of Utah Health, Hospital, SLC
UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Hospital, PIT
UPMC Presbyterian, Hospital, PIT
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Hospital, DAL
