WestJet ordered to scrap weight cap on power wheelchairs

Canada's transportation regulator has ruled that WestJet must eliminate its 300-pound weight cap for power wheelchairs on its flights. The Canadian Transportation Agency determined that this restriction is an "undue barrier" for disabled travelers. Before July 2027, WestJet must remove the weight limit from the vast majority of its aircraft and use spreader plates to better distribute the wheelchair's weight in the cargo hold.

Winnipeg resident Steven Fletcher, a former federal minister of state for transport, brought the case against the airline after he was prevented from flying with his custom wheelchair on a trip between Winnipeg and Toronto. Fletcher and other advocates argue that the weight cap has limited air travel options for Canadians and discriminated against people with disabilities.

WestJet maintains that the weight limit is necessary for flight safety, citing a technical analysis from 2024. Fletcher believes the new ruling is a significant step towards inclusivity for disabled Canadians.