WestJet has been criticized by Canada’s transport regulator for creating obstacles for travelers with disabilities by limiting certain power wheelchairs from its aircraft. The Canadian Transportation Agency has instructed WestJet to remove its 136-kilogram weight restriction on mobility aids by July 2027.
The regulator suggested that WestJet should utilize “spreader plates” to distribute the wheelchair weight more effectively in the cargo hold and make alternative travel arrangements with other airlines until the weight cap is eliminated.
The issue was raised by Winnipeg resident Steven Fletcher, a former minister of state for transport, after he was prevented from flying with his customized wheelchair on a Winnipeg-Toronto flight. Fletcher and other advocates argue that the weight limit has restricted air travel in some regions and discriminated against individuals with disabilities.
Fletcher expressed that WestJet should have proactively accommodated power wheelchairs, noting that the airline had facilitated such transportation for decades before imposing the weight limit.
WestJet declined to comment on the matter due to ongoing regulatory proceedings. The agency is expected to make a final decision on the advance notice required for passengers using mobility aids.
Last year, WestJet defended the weight limit as crucial for flight safety and compliance with accessibility regulations. The company established the 136-kilogram threshold in 2024 after a technical evaluation of cargo hold weight limits on its Boeing planes.
Advocates emphasize the impact on mobility for wheelchair users, citing looser restrictions by most airlines. Cases like Fletcher’s and that of a 14-year-old girl from Saskatoon facing travel disruptions due to wheelchair weight issues have drawn attention to the limitations faced by individuals with disabilities.
Advocates and experts highlight that other major North American airlines do not enforce such stringent weight caps on similar aircraft. Flair Airlines, based in British Columbia and operating exclusively with Boeing 737s, maintains a similar weight limit policy for safety reasons.
American Airlines faced backlash over a comparable weight restriction in 2020, prompting a reversal following advocacy efforts. The limitations imposed by WestJet and Flair Airlines on numerous flights each month pose challenges for passengers with disabilities on routes where these carriers are dominant.
The issue of accessibility and accommodation for individuals with disabilities in air travel has been a focal point, with calls for improvements and penalties for non-compliance from advocates and industry stakeholders.