WestJet Ordered to Remove 300 Pound Weight Limit on Power Wheelchairs by 2027

Canada’s transportation regulator has ordered WestJet to eliminate its 300 pound weight limit on power wheelchairs, ruling that the policy creates an undue barrier for passengers with disabilities.

The decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency is expected to have significant implications for accessibility in Canada’s air travel system. Under the ruling, WestJet must remove the weight restriction from most of its aircraft by July 2027 and introduce measures that allow heavier mobility devices to be transported safely.

The case was brought forward by Winnipeg resident Steven Fletcher, a former federal minister of state for transport and a longtime advocate for accessibility. Fletcher challenged WestJet after he was prevented from travelling with his custom power wheelchair on a flight between Winnipeg and Toronto in early 2025.

For Fletcher and other disability advocates, the issue was about more than a single flight. They argued that the weight restriction effectively prevented some Canadians who rely on larger powered wheelchairs from travelling by air, particularly in communities where air travel is an essential connection to other parts of the country.

The transportation regulator determined that the airline’s policy placed an undue obstacle in the way of passengers with disabilities. The agency has instructed WestJet to make changes that will allow heavier mobility aids to be carried on its aircraft.

One of the key measures identified by the regulator is the use of spreader plates in aircraft cargo holds. These devices can distribute the weight of a mobility aid over a larger area, reducing the pressure placed on the aircraft floor and allowing heavier wheelchairs to be transported while maintaining safety requirements.

The regulator has given WestJet until July 2027 to implement the changes across the vast majority of its aircraft. Until the modifications are completed, the airline has also been directed to arrange alternative travel with other carriers when it cannot accommodate a passenger’s mobility device.

The dispute dates back to WestJet’s introduction of its 300 pound mobility aid limit in 2024. The airline had said the restriction was based on technical assessments concerning the maximum allowable weight per square inch in the cargo holds of its Boeing aircraft.

WestJet argued that the limit was necessary for operational and flight safety reasons. The company also maintained that existing accessibility regulations allowed airlines to refuse transportation of mobility aids that exceeded established safety limits.

However, advocates challenged the policy, arguing that a blanket weight restriction did not adequately account for different aircraft configurations or available safety solutions.

Fletcher said the decision represents an important step toward ensuring that Canadians with disabilities are not excluded from air travel because of the size or weight of their mobility equipment.

He argued that the policy had affected an entire group of Canadians who depend on power wheelchairs for mobility and independence. In his view, the 300 pound threshold unfairly restricted their ability to travel and created unnecessary barriers to participation in everyday life.

The ruling could also place greater attention on accessibility standards throughout Canada’s aviation industry. Power wheelchairs are essential mobility devices for many people with physical disabilities, and modern models can be substantially heavier than traditional manual wheelchairs because of their batteries, motors and reinforced frames.

For passengers who depend on these devices, air travel can already involve complicated arrangements. Wheelchairs may need to be checked as mobility equipment, batteries must be handled according to aviation requirements and passengers often need to provide detailed information about the dimensions and specifications of their devices before travelling.

A weight restriction adds another potential obstacle, particularly for travellers who have customized equipment designed around their individual medical and mobility needs.

The transportation regulator’s decision suggests that airlines may need to consider practical engineering solutions rather than relying exclusively on blanket restrictions.

The use of spreader plates is central to that approach. Instead of treating the total weight of a wheelchair as the only consideration, the equipment can help distribute the load across the aircraft cargo floor.

The case has attracted attention beyond Canada as well. John Morris, founder of the U.S. based WheelchairTravel.org, has said that other major North American airlines do not maintain a similarly low weight limit for Boeing 737 aircraft and comparable planes.

That comparison could increase pressure on Canadian carriers to examine how their accessibility policies measure up against practices elsewhere.

WestJet has declined to provide a detailed public response while aspects of the matter remain before the regulator. The Canadian Transportation Agency is also expected to make a final determination concerning how much advance notice passengers using mobility aids must provide to the airline.

The upcoming decision could become another important part of the broader accessibility debate.

For WestJet, the ruling means changes will need to be made not only to equipment handling procedures but also to how passengers using heavier power wheelchairs are accommodated. The airline will have to work toward meeting the new requirements while ensuring that its aircraft continue to operate within established safety standards.

For disability advocates, the decision represents a broader principle: accessibility should not depend on whether a passenger’s mobility device fits within an arbitrary limit when practical and safe alternatives are available.

Air travel remains an essential part of Canadian life, particularly for people travelling between provinces and territories where road or rail alternatives can be impractical or inaccessible. A passenger who requires a power wheelchair should not have to choose between travelling and taking the mobility equipment necessary for everyday independence.

The July 2027 deadline gives WestJet time to make the required changes. In the meantime, passengers whose wheelchairs cannot be accommodated under the existing system may have to rely on alternative arrangements, including travel on another airline where necessary.

The case also highlights the importance of consultation between airlines, regulators and people with disabilities when accessibility policies are developed.

As aircraft and mobility technology continue to evolve, regulations and airline procedures will increasingly need to reflect the realities faced by passengers who use sophisticated powered equipment.

The WestJet case could therefore have significance well beyond one airline or one wheelchair. It raises fundamental questions about equal access to transportation and whether technical limitations can be addressed through innovation rather than exclusion.

By requiring WestJet to remove its 300 pound restriction and explore methods such as spreader plates, Canada’s transportation regulator has placed accessibility at the centre of the discussion.

For thousands of Canadians who depend on power wheelchairs, the changes could ultimately mean fewer restrictions, greater independence and a more reliable ability to travel by air.

Courtesy: theglobeandmail