Canadian regulator orders WestJet to eliminate wheelchair weight limit by 2027

Canada’s transport regulator ruled that WestJet must eliminate its 136-kilogram (300-pound) weight restriction on mobility aids by July 2027, calling the rule an unnecessary obstacle for disabled passengers. The agency advised the carrier to use spreader plates to distribute wheelchair weight in the cargo hold and to provide alternative arrangements with other airlines during the transition. The complaint was filed by Winnipeg resident Steven Fletcher, a former federal minister of state for transport, who was prevented from flying with his custom wheelchair on a Winnipeg-Toronto route last year.

Advocates argue the limit has curtailed travel options and discriminated against people with disabilities, citing incidents such as a 14-year-old’s denied trip to Mexico. WestJet has not commented while the regulator finalizes notice-period requirements. The decision highlights broader concerns about accessibility standards across Canadian airlines.