Canada's transportation regulator has dealt a significant blow to WestJet's controversial mobility aid restrictions, ordering the Calgary-based carrier to eliminate its 136-kilogram weight cap on power wheelchairs by July 2027.
The Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that WestJet's policy creates an "undue barrier" for travellers living with disabilities, effectively excluding people who rely on heavier custom wheelchairs from accessing air travel on most of the airline's fleet.
The landmark decision follows a complaint filed by Steven Fletcher, a Winnipeg resident and former federal minister of state for transport, who was prevented from boarding a WestJet flight with his custom wheelchair in early 2025. Fletcher's case has become a rallying point for disability advocates across Canada arguing that the airline's rules are discriminatory.
What the Regulator Is Requiring
Under the agency's directive, WestJet must implement practical solutions immediately—specifically using "spreader plates" to better distribute wheelchair weight across cargo hold surfaces. The airline is also required to arrange alternative travel with other carriers for passengers whose wheelchairs exceed the weight limit until it complies fully with the new ruling.
The regulator noted that WestJet has until July 2027 to engineer permanent accommodations to its aircraft or modify procedures to safely transport heavier mobility devices.
"An Arbitrary Number That Doesn't Hold Up"
In an interview this week, Fletcher expressed frustration with the airline's stance, saying the weight cap has unfairly stigmatized an entire population of Canadians.
"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 said. "WestJet should have taken proactive steps to accommodate the power wheelchairs. Obviously they've done it before, because I've been flying with them for three decades with power wheelchairs and many other people have as well."
The decision underscores growing concern that accessibility restrictions at major Canadian carriers have curtailed air travel options for people with disabilities across the country.
WestJet's Safety Arguments Rejected
WestJet previously defended the 136-kilogram threshold as a safety requirement, arguing that the weight limit reflects the "maximum allowable weight per square inch" that Boeing-manufactured cargo holds on its aircraft can safely support. The airline landed on the figure after conducting a technical analysis in 2024.
However, the regulator's decision suggests that safety concerns alone do not justify excluding wheelchair users from air travel, particularly when practical accommodations—like weight distribution systems—can address the underlying issue.
WestJet declined to comment on the ruling, stating that portions of the matter remain under regulatory review. The Canadian Transportation Agency is expected to issue a final decision on advance notice requirements for passengers using mobility aids.
This article is based on reporting from CBC Calgary.