SummaryBackground There is an increased risk of venous thrombosis after air travel, but the underlying mechanism is unclear. Our aim was to ascertain whether flying leads to a hypercoagulable state.Methods We did a crossover study in 71 healthy volunteers (15 men, 56 women), in whom we measured markers of activation of coagulation and fibrinolysis before, during, and after an 8-h flight. The same individuals participated in two control exposure situations (8-h movie marathon and daily life) to separate the effect of air travel on the coagulation system from those of immobilisation and circadian rhythm. To study the effect of risk factors for thrombosis, we included participants with the factor V Leiden mutation (n=11), those who took oral contraceptives (n=15), or both (n=15), as well as 30 individuals with no specific risk factors.Findings After the flight, median concentrations of thrombin-antithrombin (TAT) complex increased by 30·1% (95% CI 11·2-63·2), but decreased by 2·1% (Ϫ11·2 to 14) after the cinema and by 7·9% (Ϫ16·2 to Ϫ1·2) after the daily life situation. We recorded a high response in TAT levels in 17% (11 of 66) of individuals after air travel (3% [2 of 68] for movie marathon; 1% [1 of 70] in daily life). These findings were most evident in the group with the factor V Leiden mutation who used oral contraceptives. We noted a high response in all variables (prothrombin fragment 1 and 2, TAT, and D-dimer) in four of 63 (6·3%) volunteers after the flight, but in no-one after either of the control situations.Interpretation Activation of coagulation occurs in some individuals after an 8-h flight, indicating an additional mechanism to immobilisation underlying air travel related thrombosis. hypoxia controlled for effects of immobilisation at ground level and for circadian rhythm. We drew blood before, during, and after each exposure, at the same time of day. For the first exposure situation, we chartered a Boeing 757 for a non-stop day flight of 8 h from and to Schiphol airport, Amsterdam. We instructed volunteers not to smoke, use drugs, drink alcohol, or take any prophylactic measures to prevent thrombosis-eg, heparin or aspirin use, or wearing of elastic stockings during the flight-to remain seated as much as possible, and to keep a structured record of fluid intake. 2-3 weeks after the flight, all participants sat for 8 h (for practical reasons two sessions with half the participants in each) in a cinema. We imposed the same restrictions during this second exposure situation as in the first with respect to moving, drugs, smoking, and drinking, and again asked participants to keep a record of their fluid intake. For the final exposure situation, 2 weeks after the movie marathon, we asked participants to live their lives as they normally would for a day, recording fluid intake. We asked participants not to drink alcohol, take drugs, or smoke, but did not restrict movement. We asked participants to keep their food and fluid intake constant during the three exposures.Experienced technicians did the blood ...