OxygenToGo Announces That Portable Oxygen Concentrators Save Airlines Money By Reducing Equipment Weight, Labor And Liability

Jackson Hole, WY (PRWEB) July 21, 2008 -- OxygenToGo, the leader in direct-to-traveler oxygen services, today announced their research report findings indicating that airlines can save money by reducing the onboard weight of equipment for oxygen-dependent travelers.

Using market and in-house data, OxygenToGo concluded that using portable oxygen concentrators (POCs) instead of traditional oxygen tanks reduce the weight of oxygen equipment by at least 70 percent on short-haul flights and almost 85 percent on long-haul flights. With the high price of aviation fuel, these savings in weight correspond directly to a cost savings.

"The most significant short-term challenge for airlines is fuel costs," said Brent Blue, M.D., president and medical director for OxygenToGo. "The most significant long-term challenge for airlines is adapting their service to aging Baby Boomers. OxygenToGo addresses both issues at no charge to the airline. It is a solution with no down-side."

In the near future, the demand for oxygen during travel is expected to rise sharply as physicians prescribe oxygen for both a broader range of medical ailments and the Baby Boomers who are preparing to retire and travel. These factors will dramatically increase the number of both rented and owner-provided POCs onboard aircraft.

OxygenToGo offers a short-term rental program to assist airlines and their passengers in easily obtaining a POC. Travelers in need of a POC will be directed to OxygenToGo via the airline's Web site or customer service staff.

OxygenToGo has licensed respiratory therapists and board-certified physicians available at all times to ensure an appropriate match between passenger and equipment, as well as around-the-clock customer support for any technical or medical problems that the passenger may encounter.

The POC is delivered to the passenger's home prior to departure, and OxygenToGo bills the fees directly to the passenger, removing the airline from all financial or logistical burdens.

See www.oxygentogo.com/airlines for the full report.

About POCs

A portable oxygen concentrator filters nitrogen out of the surrounding air, providing a concentrated flow of oxygen to the user. The FAA and TSA have approved several models for use onboard commercial aircraft. The DOT recently declared that all commercial flights, regardless of size, must allow users to bring a POC onboard.

About OxygenToGo

OxygenToGo provides rentals of portable oxygen concentrators and medical support for oxygen-dependent travelers. OxygenToGo eliminates the hassle of previous systems by replacing large, bulky and often expensive oxygen tanks with much smaller oxygen concentrators that are both FAA- and TSA-approved. OxygenToGo further relieves stress on the airlines by delivering the POC and its accessories quickly and directly to the traveler from facilities around the world. Currently, OxygenToGo partners with several U.S. and international airlines to provide this complete oxygen service to travelers. To learn more about OxygenToGo's services for airlines, please contact Ted Ladd at tedladd @ oxygentogo.com or (307) 413-3333.

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