Air Canada has introduced a new mobility aid travel policy that allows customers with disabilities to travel with up to three eligible mobility aids or pieces of adaptive equipment at no additional charge.
The policy applies to a combination of personal mobility aids, adaptive sports equipment, personal or patient lifts and similar transfer devices. It is intended to provide more consistent rules for travellers who rely on specialized equipment, including adaptive athletes and recreational travellers.
“Travelling with a mobility aid can involve significant planning, and we recognize the uncertainty customers may feel when they are separated from equipment that is essential to their independence,” said Kerianne Wilson, Director, Customer Accessibility at Air Canada.
“This new policy is about giving customers more consistent choices, clearer expectations and greater confidence when they travel with us. It also reflects our commitment to listening to people with lived experience and continuing to improve accessibility across the travel journey.”
Under the new rules, customers can travel with up to three mobility aids free of charge. Eligible items can include any combination of personal mobility aids, adaptive sports equipment and personal or patient lifts or similar transfer devices.
The policy also addresses situations in which a mobility aid is too large to be carried on the same aircraft as the passenger. In those cases, Air Canada Cargo will transport the equipment within Canada at no additional charge.
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The changes apply to customers travelling for business, leisure, medical purposes or adapted sport.
For travellers with disabilities, one significant element is the establishment of clearer rules around what equipment can be brought without requiring individual exceptions.
“Having this policy clearly defined means people with disabilities can travel, without having to explain or justify our needs. As both a traveller with a disability and a Para athlete, it is meaningful to see Air Canada recognize that the equipment we travel with, whether it supports daily life, care needs or participation in sport, are extensions of our bodies, not an extra piece of luggage,” said Meghan Hines, chair of Air Canada’s Accessibility Advisory Committee.
“This policy recognizes that accessibility needs do not look the same for everyone and that people with disabilities should be able to travel with the equipment they need without added uncertainty or having to advocate for an exception.”
The Canadian Paralympic Committee also welcomed the change, particularly its implications for athletes travelling with specialized equipment.
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“Air Canada continues to take meaningful steps to make travel more accessible, and this new policy will make a significant difference in making travel easier and more affordable for athletes at all levels of sport, from recreation to high-performance," said Rachael Pinnock, Chief Commercial and Impact Officer, Canadian Paralympic Committee.
"This is a testament to Air Canada’s commitment to listening and learning from the experiences and perspectives of the Para sport community, and it is incredibly exciting to see those insights reflected in practical changes that will improve access to sport and travel. We are grateful for Air Canada’s ongoing partnership and their commitment to advancing accessibility.”
The new policy follows several other accessibility changes Air Canada has introduced in recent years.
The airline has developed a mobility aid tracking feature in its app that allows passengers to confirm whether their mobility aid has been loaded onto their flight. It has also reviewed procedures for handling mobility aids, added specialized lift equipment at Canadian airports and provided employee training related to assisting customers with disabilities.
Air Canada’s Accessibility Plan includes work involving power wheelchairs and other mobility aids, flight options, digital tracking and notifications, boarding and transfer assistance, and coordination with airports, regulators, aircraft manufacturers and mobility aid manufacturers.
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