There is no evidence that passenger air travel increases the risk of pregnancy complications such as preterm labour, rupture of membranes or abruption.
The radiation dose to the fetus from flying is not significant unless frequent long-haul air travel occurs in pregnancy. Body scanners that utilise ionising radiation for security checks do not pose a risk to mother or fetus from radiation exposure.
Flights of more than 4 h of duration are associated with a small increase in the relative risk of venous thrombosis, but overall the absolute risk is very small.
The presence of specific risk factors for thrombosis would be expected to increase the risk, and therefore a specific risk assessment should be made for thrombosis in pregnant women who are travelling by air. Specific measures that are likely to be of benefit are graduated elastic compression stockings for women who are pregnant and flying medium to long hault flights lasting more than 4 h and LMWH for those with significant risk factors such as previous thrombosis or morbid obesity.
Low dose Aspirin should not be used in pregnancy for thromboprophylaxis associated with air travel.