Obese woman loses discrimination case against Air Canada

Airline Industry Information, Oct 24, 2002

AIRLINE INDUSTRY INFORMATION-(C)1997-2002 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD

The Canadian Transportation Agency has officially stated that narrow airline seats are uncomfortable but do not discriminate against obese passengers.

The agency made the ruling following a complaint in 1997 about Air Canada's policy of charging obese passengers a higher fare if they require the use of more than one seat or an upgrade to a wider seat. The female passenger - who claims her obesity is a disability - claimed that the policy was discriminatory after she was forced to pay an extra fare for a wider business class seat.

However, a three-member panel ruled that the woman's obesity was not considered a disability as it had not prevented her from using airport facilities or boarding the aircraft.

The panel also found that being unable to fit comfortably in a seat is not enough evidence of the existence of a disability as many people experience discomfort in airline seats due to their size and legroom, reported Reuters.

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