It is a number that the charity's operations manager and director Terry McGowan said fell far short of its potential.

"We had no idea the service was so underused in the area until we looked into the figures," he said.

"We've only provided six flights to Mount Isa families and two to a person in Mornington Island. I'm sure there are a lot of people in the area, perhaps hundreds, that could be making use of our service, but they just aren't aware we exist."

The Angel Flight Australia service is available to patients, carers and their families who require treatment at destinations where other forms of transport are physically and emotionally taxing or unaffordable.

Angel Flight pilots make non-emergency flights and do not carry aero-medical staff or medical equipment, meaning they are not an alternative to the Royal Flying Doctor Service but rather a supplementary service.

Mr McGowan said the onus was on medical professionals to refer suitable patients to Angel Flight.

"We take referrals from health professionals who gauge whether the people are in need of our assistance," he said.

"At one time there were referrals coming out of Mount Isa, but now we're not hearing from the health professionals and people in the region are missing out."

Mr McGowan said once the referral was received, volunteer pilots nominated for the job.

To date Angel Flight has provided more than 9000 missions, to help more than 1800 patients, carers and family members in Australia.