Canada's transportation watchdog has dealt a significant blow to WestJet's controversial weight restrictions on power wheelchairs, ordering the Calgary-based carrier to eliminate its 136-kilogram cap before July 2027.
The Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that the airline's policy creates an "undue barrier" for passengers living with disabilities who rely on mobility aids for air travel. The decision marks a major victory for disability rights advocates who have long argued the restrictions discriminate against a vulnerable population.
A Policy That Grounded Travellers
WestJet implemented the weight cap in 2024 after conducting a technical analysis of its Boeing aircraft cargo holds. The airline argued the restriction was necessary for flight safety and compliance with accessibility regulations. However, the regulator rejected that rationale, finding the policy overly restrictive and not adequately justified.
The case gained national attention when Steven Fletcher, a Winnipeg resident and former federal minister of state for transport, was prevented from boarding a WestJet flight between Winnipeg and Toronto with his custom wheelchair. Fletcher's complaint triggered the regulatory investigation that ultimately led to today's ruling.
"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," Fletcher told The Canadian Press this week.
In the interim, the agency directed WestJet to use "spreader plates" — specialized equipment designed to better distribute wheelchair weight across the cargo hold — as an immediate accommodation. The airline must also arrange alternative travel arrangements with other carriers for passengers whose wheelchairs exceed the weight limit until the new policy takes effect.
Broader Concerns About Air Accessibility
Fletcher and other disability advocates say the weight cap has severely curtailed air travel opportunities across Canada, effectively excluding people who use heavier power wheelchairs from accessing aviation services. The restriction raised serious questions about accessibility standards and whether airlines were truly meeting their legal obligations to accommodate passengers with disabilities.
"WestJet should have taken proactive steps to accommodate power wheelchairs. They've done it before — I've been flying with them for three decades with power wheelchairs, and many other people have as well," Fletcher noted.
The Canadian Transportation Agency is expected to release a final decision on additional requirements, including how much advance notice passengers using mobility aids must provide to the airline.
WestJet declined to comment on the ruling, citing ongoing regulatory proceedings related to the matter.
This article is based on reporting from CBC Edmonton and The Canadian Press.