By Skies Magazine | January 4, 2024 Estimated reading time 4 minutes, 53 seconds.
Air Canada is facing a $97,500 penalty for failing to help a man with a disability exit a plane in Las Vegas last summer, a high-profile incident that went viral on social media and made international headlines.
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) levied the penalty just before Christmas, after concluding the airline made “several violations” of federal regulations that govern accessible transportation.
Air Canada can request an appeal to the decision within 30 days, but it is unclear if the airline will take that step. The incident was one of three high-profile summer cases involving the airline and persons with disabilities, prompting public censure from Canada’s federal government.
“All Canadians must be treated with dignity and respect. Full stop,” said transportation minister Pablo Rodriguez in a statement.
“They must present a plan to address this. Canadians expect Air Canada to do better.”
Air Canada did not respond to a request for comment from Skies, but told CBC in November 2023 it reached out to the customers involved to “apologize, listen to their concerns, and offer compensation.”
The airline also said it finalized a three-year plan in June to increase accessibility for both customers and employees, CBC reported.
Air Canada was found to have contravened accessible transportation regulations three times in an Aug. 30, 2023, incident involving a man with cerebral palsy.
The CTA found the passenger was “forced to disembark the aircraft on his own,” despite being a wheelchair user who is unable to move his legs.
According to a viral Facebook post and media reports, the crew on an Air Canada flight crew required the man to get himself to the front of an aircraft without a mobility aid, due to a lack of available help.
The airline has since apologized to Rodney Hodgins, 50, who was travelling with his wife Deanna from Vancouver to Las Vegas, according to CBC and the Canadian Press.
“I was so mad watching him fight to drag his uncooperative body so slowly and painfully,” wrote Deanna Hodgins in a Facebook post that has been shared about 1,300 times.
“I fought his muscle spasms, dragging and pushing his legs and feet to try and help. Finally at the cockpit, he got on my back …. He suffered for days after.”
Air Canada reportedly offered the couple $2,000 in flight credits, and the incident was discussed in Parliament.
“We’ve had messages and calls from all over,” wrote Deanna Hodgins in a subsequent Facebook post on Nov. 3, 2023.
“We believe that although we shouldn’t have to fight for basic decency and inclusive treatment with fair, decent, respectful treatment for people with disabilities travelling in 2023 … we are doing it with your help.”
