Holidaymakers should ensure they notify their airline of any medical conditions that might cause problems onboard flights, according to one expert.

Jason Wakeford of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) said that carriers and pilots are able to deny passage to a customer with a medical condition that could result in significant issues on a flight.

It is also important for staff to know of any illnesses before the trip as receiving appropriate medical care while in the skies may not be an option for some, he added.

"If you have a condition that can be exacerbated by the conditions inside an aircraft, then you don't want that happening at 30,000 feet where medical protection may be very hard to come by," Mr Wakeford explained.

He advised travellers to visit their GP for an assessment before flying.

According to CAA statistics, 514 health-related emergency calls were made by UK airlines last year, resulting in 58 diversions being made.

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