Airlines ordered to collect on one ticket only for disabled travelling with aides

Community Action, Jan 23, 2008

The Canadian Transportation Agency has ordered Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and West Jet to adopt a one-person-one-fare policy for persons with severe disabilities who travel within Canada by air. The airlines have one year to implement the policy.

The tribunal's Decision means that for domestic services, Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz and WestJet may not charge more than one fare for:

* persons with disabilities who are accompanied by an attendant for their personal care or safety in flight, as required by the carriers' domestic tariffs; or

* those who require additional seating for themselves, including those determined to be functionally disabled by obesity for purposes of air travel.

The Decision is based on longstanding principles of equal access to transportation services for persons with disabilities, regardless of the nature of the disability, in order to remove "undue obstacles" to their mobility.

cta-otc.gc.ca