The Canadian Transportation Agency has announced that WestJet is imposing an “undue barrier” for travelers with disabilities by effectively prohibiting certain power wheelchairs from its flights. This ruling comes as part of a broader effort to enhance accessibility and ensure that individuals with disabilities can travel without discrimination.
The agency has mandated that WestJet must eliminate its 300-pound weight limit on mobility aids on the majority of its aircraft by July 2027. The regulator's decision encourages the airline to utilize spreader plates, which are designed to distribute the weight of the wheelchair more evenly in the cargo hold. Additionally, it has suggested that WestJet coordinate alternative travel arrangements with other airlines until the weight restriction is lifted.
This case was brought to the forefront by Steven Fletcher, a former federal minister of state for transport and a resident of Winnipeg. Fletcher was denied boarding on a flight from Winnipeg to Toronto early last year due to his custom wheelchair exceeding WestJet's weight limit. He, along with other advocates, has argued that this weight cap limits air travel for many Canadians and discriminates against individuals living with disabilities.
WestJet has refrained from commenting on the matter, citing that parts of the case are still under review by the regulator. The agency is set to deliver a final decision regarding the advance notice that passengers using mobility aids must provide to the airline ahead of their flights.
In its defense, WestJet has stated that the weight limit is critical for flight safety and has asserted that accessibility regulations permit it to refuse transport of heavier mobility aids. The airline established the 300-pound threshold in 2024, following a technical analysis that determined the “maximum allowable weight limit per square inch for the cargo holds” of its Boeing aircraft.
In an interview following the recent ruling, Fletcher expressed his belief that the weight limit has marginalized many disabled Canadians. He emphasized that the regulator’s decision is a positive step toward inclusivity. “They have stigmatized and alienated and excluded an entire population of Canadians – through no fault of their own – just because of some arbitrary number which doesn’t hold up,” he remarked.
Moreover, John Morris, founder of the U.S.-based organization WheelchairTravel.org, noted that no other major North American airline imposes such a low weight cap on Boeing 737 jets or similarly sized aircraft. This highlights WestJet's policy as uniquely restrictive within the industry, raising concerns regarding equity and access for those needing mobility aids.
Overall, the regulatory intervention serves as a crucial reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by people with disabilities in accessing air travel and the necessity for airlines to implement more inclusive practices.
