One Disability, One Airfare
On November 20, 2008 the Supreme Court of Canada dismissed an appeal in Air Canada et al. v. Canadian Transportation Agency et al.[1] The decision means that air carriers and airports must accommodate persons with disabilities, even if doing so requires the provision of an “extra” seat. The appeal was the result of a ruling made by the Canadian Transportation Agency in January 2008 requiring that both airports and air carriers make accommodations for people with the following disabilities:
- “those persons who are required, under the terms of the carriers’ tariff, to be accompanied by an Attendant;
- those persons who are disabled as a result of obesity; and
- those other persons who require additional seating for themselves to accommodate their disability to travel by air.”[2]
The airlines were directed to provide an “extra” seat (at no cost to the passenger) to those who need the assistance of an attendant, or who do not fit into a single aircraft seat. Airports were directed to develop plans to alert airlines of the decision. Both parties were given until January 10, 2009 to make plans to accomplish the directive.
[1] Supreme Court of Canada, “Air Canada et al. v. Canadian Transportation Agency et al.” http://www.scc-csc.gc.ca/information/cms-sgd/dock-regi-eng.asp?32729.
[2] Canadian Transportation Agency, “Decision No. 6-AT-A-2008” (January 10, 2008) at para 25. http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/rulings-decisions/decisions/2008/A/AT/6-AT-A-2008_e.html.