WestJet Airlines faces criticism from advocates and travelers for a policy that restricts certain power wheelchairs from most of its planes, which is deemed discriminatory against individuals with disabilities. The airline’s website specifies a weight limit of 136 kilograms (300 pounds) for mobility aids, excluding many power wheelchairs.
Steven Fletcher, a Manitoba resident and former MP, was informed by an airline agent that his wheelchair exceeded the weight limit and couldn’t be accommodated on a flight from Winnipeg to Toronto last February. Fletcher condemned this policy as a deliberate form of discrimination that hinders individuals from flying on WestJet.
Another incident involved a 14-year-old girl from Saskatoon who was denied boarding on a Mexico-bound flight due to her wheelchair’s weight, despite having flown with the same mobility device on WestJet previously. The airline spokesperson, Julia Brunet, mentioned that they are assisting the family with their travel arrangements.
WestJet defended its weight limit, citing regulatory guidelines that permit airlines to reject heavier mobility aids. The company conducted an engineering analysis to set the 136-kilogram threshold based on cargo hold weight limits for its Boeing aircraft. Unlike other North American airlines, WestJet maintains one of the lowest weight caps for its jets, drawing criticism from advocates like Maayan Ziv, founder of AccessNow.
Although American Airlines briefly implemented a similar weight restriction in 2020 before retracting it, WestJet maintains that it complies with all legal requirements. The airline asserts its adherence to regulations in response to a regulatory complaint filed by Fletcher.