WestJet has been criticized by Canada’s transport regulator for creating obstacles for travelers with disabilities by restricting certain power wheelchairs from its flights. The Canadian Transportation Agency has ordered WestJet to eliminate its 136-kilogram weight limit on mobility aids by July 2027.
The agency suggested that WestJet use “spreader plates” to distribute the wheelchair’s weight more effectively in the cargo hold and make alternative travel arrangements with other airlines until the weight cap is lifted.
The complaint was initiated by Steven Fletcher, a Winnipeg resident and former federal minister of state for transport, who was denied boarding with his custom wheelchair on a flight from Winnipeg to Toronto. Advocates argue that the weight restriction has limited air travel options and discriminated against individuals with disabilities.
Fletcher criticized WestJet for excluding a segment of the Canadian population due to an arbitrary weight limit. The airline has been urged to accommodate power wheelchairs more proactively and had previously facilitated such travel for decades.
WestJet declined to comment as the matter is still under review by the regulator. The agency is expected to determine the notice period required for passengers using mobility aids to inform the airline before traveling.
WestJet had defended the weight limit citing safety concerns and compliance with accessibility regulations. The company established the 136-kilogram threshold in 2024 after assessing cargo hold weight limits on its Boeing aircraft.
Advocates emphasize the significant impact on mobility for wheelchair users and highlight that most airlines have more lenient weight restrictions. Cases like Fletcher’s and a teenager from Saskatoon being denied travel due to wheelchair weight have sparked debate on the issue.
According to John Morris of WheelchairTravel.org, no other major North American airline with Boeing 737 jets, like WestJet, maintains such a low weight limit. Flair Airlines, another carrier operating 737s, also enforces a similar weight cap.
American Airlines faced backlash for a similar policy in 2020 before retracting it. Advocates argue that the restrictions imposed by airlines in Western Canada pose challenges for passengers with disabilities, especially on routes where limited carrier options are available.
Ensuring accessibility for all passengers, including those with disabilities, is a critical aspect of air travel that requires ongoing attention and accommodation from airlines.