WestJet ordered to remove weight cap on power wheelchairs

The Canadian Transportation Agency has ordered WestJet to remove its 300-pound weight limit on power wheelchairs, ruling that the policy created an “undue barrier” for travelers living with disabilities. The regulator mandated that the airline must scrap the cap on the vast majority of its aircraft before July 2027.

To manage heavier mobility aids, the agency directed WestJet to utilize spreader plates to distribute weight more effectively within cargo holds. Until the transition is complete, the airline is expected to arrange alternative travel options with other carriers for affected passengers.

The regulatory action follows a complaint by Steven Fletcher, a former federal minister of state for transport, who was prevented from flying with a custom wheelchair on a domestic route last year. While WestJet previously argued the weight limit was necessary for flight safety based on cargo hold technical analysis, advocates maintain the policy discriminated against and marginalized disabled Canadians.