Tuesday, September 29, 2026

A New Partnership Takes Flight with Southwest Airlines

We are thrilled to share some exciting news, Angel Flight NE has been selected as a 2026/2027 Southwest Airlines Medical Flight Network partner!

For 30 years, Angel Flight NE has worked to ensure that distance is never a barrier between a patient and the medical care they need. Our new partnership with Southwest Airlines gives us another important resource to help patients and their caregivers travel to specialized medical treatment, always at no cost to the families we serve.

Through its Medical Flight Network, Southwest Airlines provides donated round-trip flights to nonprofit hospitals and medical transportation organizations, helping patients and caregivers reach specialized medical care during some of the most critical moments in their health journeys. Southwest has awarded nearly $5.2 million in travel to 83 hospitals and medical transportation organizations, the largest group of partners in the program’s history.

For Angel Flight NE, this partnership means something very simple: more opportunities to say “yes” when a patient needs our help.

We are already seeing this partnership in action! The stories below are just a few examples of how Southwest Airlines is helping Angel Flight NE patients and families reach the care they need , with kindness and compassion along the way.

Helping Basiliki Reach Cancer Care

Basiliki and her husband, Greg, are traveling from New York to Nashville as Basiliki receives cancer care at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute.

When treatment requires traveling hundreds of miles from home, simply getting to care can become another challenge for a patient and their family.

Through our new partnership with Southwest Airlines, Angel Flight NE is helping make that journey a little easier for Basiliki and Greg so they can focus on what matters most, her treatment and care.

Behind every Angel Flight NE journey is a community of people working together. From airline partners and flight crews to volunteer pilots, Earth Angels, donors and supporters, each plays a role in helping our patients get where they need to go.

It truly takes a village, and we are grateful to be part of an aviation community that comes together every day to make a difference in people’s lives.

A Special Flight for Jonathan

Jonathan, born in 2015, travels from New York to Florida for specialized care for spinal muscular atrophy.

On a recent trip with Southwest, Jonathan and his family had what they described as the “best experience.” On their flight home, they met Captain Bruce, whose kindness made an already important journey even more memorable.

His family shared:

“Thank you for your assistance with our flight to West Palm with Southwest Airlines. We had the best experience and the staff were excellent. Our flight coming home we met Captain Bruce. He was incredibly kind and sincere.”

It’s these moments of kindness and connection that can make such a difference for families traveling far from home for medical care.

Patient Spotlight: Sy & Family

A journey to care became a celebration they will never forget.

Since 2023, Angel Flight NE has had the privilege of helping Sy and his family travel from Boston to Cincinnati for the specialized medical care he needs. This Massachusetts family has relied on Angel Flight NE for 12 missions so far and most recently, Southwest helped make another important journey possible.

Sy was traveling to Cincinnati for a clinical trial follow-up, but this particular flight became about much more than getting to an appointment.

As the family boarded, Sy was invited into the cockpit to meet the Southwest crew. He lit up instantly getting the chance to “fly the plane” and even speak over the intercom.

Then came a moment his family will never forget.

The pilot announced to the passengers that Sy was officially 10 months in remission from Langerhans Cell Histiocytosis.

As Sy walked down the aisle toward his seat, the entire plane erupted in cheers. Passengers clapped, smiled and celebrated this incredible milestone alongside him.

His family shared:

“Your organization has flown us through some very challenging times from the very start of this journey, and we are so excited to share this celebratory moment with you.”

— Sy, Shane & Ashley S.

Welcome Aboard, Southwest!

Basiliki, Jonathan and Sy are just three examples of what this new partnership means for the patients and families we serve.

Southwest is helping us do more than get patients from one city to another. Their generosity combined with the kindness and compassion of their crews is helping make difficult medical journeys a little easier and, sometimes, turning a flight into a moment of celebration.

We are incredibly grateful to welcome Southwest Airlines into the Angel Flight NE family and to have another trusted partner helping us ensure that distance does not stand between a patient and the specialized medical care they need.

Together, we are helping more patients get where they need to go.

#WhereCareTakesOff

Evening of Angels Gala

Join us on Friday, November 20, 2026, at the Seaport Hotel Boston as we celebrate 30 years of ensuring that no patient is ever denied medical care because of distance.

Our Evening of Angels Gala will bring together more than 450 business leaders, healthcare partners, volunteer pilots, donors, and friends for an inspiring evening featuring remarkable patient stories, exciting live and silent auctions, and the opportunity to make a lasting difference.

Here's how you can help:

• Reserve your seats or table today.

• Become an event sponsor and showcase your commitment to our mission.

• Donate a unique auction item, experience, travel package, gift certificate, or memorabilia to help us raise critical funds.

• Invite your family, friends, or colleagues to celebrate with us.

Every sponsorship, auction donation, and ticket purchased helps provide free flights and ground transportation for children and adults traveling to lifesaving medical care.

RSVP today. Become a sponsor. Donate an auction item.

Together, we can ensure that distance is never a barrier to care.

Volunteer Today!

Contact Jonathan or Georgie for more information and to sign up to help our organization! 978-794-6868 or email info@angelflightne.org