Air Canada has introduced an updated policy regarding mobility aids, allowing travelers to bring up to three aids at no additional cost. This change aims to enhance flexibility for individuals using such aids or carrying adaptive sports gear. Meghan Hines, the chair of Air Canada’s accessibility advisory committee, emphasized the significance of this policy in eliminating the need to constantly justify the necessity of such aids while traveling.
Under this new policy, eligible items include personal mobility aids, adaptive sports equipment, patient lifts, and similar transfer devices. For larger devices that cannot accompany the traveler on the same aircraft, Air Canada will arrange for free transportation within Canada via cargo services.
Hines expressed appreciation for the acknowledgment that individuals with disabilities require diverse accessibility solutions and should be able to travel with their necessary equipment without unnecessary complications. The Canadian Paralympic Committee’s Chief Commercial and Impact Officer, Rachael Pinnock, lauded this initiative as a positive step towards facilitating easier and more affordable travel for athletes across all levels of sports, showcasing Air Canada’s commitment to understanding and incorporating feedback from the Para sport community.
In a related development, Canada’s transport regulator has mandated WestJet to eliminate its 136-kilogram weight restriction on mobility aids before July 2027. This decision was made following concerns that the weight cap was creating obstacles for travelers with disabilities, particularly in transporting certain power wheelchairs. The regulator has instructed WestJet to implement measures like spreader plates to evenly distribute the weight of wheelchairs in cargo holds and to facilitate alternative travel arrangements with other airlines until the weight cap is lifted.
