WestJet ordered to scrap wheelchair weight cap

Canada's transport regulator has ordered WestJet to abandon its 300-pound weight limit on power wheelchairs, deeming it an "undue barrier" for travellers with disabilities. The Canadian Transportation Agency ruled that the airline must implement "spreader plates" to better distribute wheelchair weight and arrange alternative travel with other carriers until July 2027.

This decision follows a case brought by Steven Fletcher, a former federal minister of state for transport, who was prevented from flying with his custom wheelchair from Winnipeg to Toronto. Fletcher and advocates argue that the weight cap discriminates against Canadians with disabilities and curtails air travel opportunities. WestJet maintains that the limit ensures flight safety and adheres to aircraft weight limits, but the regulator contends that the threshold lacks justification and has caused significant inconvenience for power wheelchair users.