The British Columbia Supreme Court has certified a class-action lawsuit against Air Canada over the handling of passengers who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids, opening the case to travellers who flew with the carrier between January 2021 and June 2023. The case centres on claims that the airline failed to assist disabled passengers safely and with dignity, including an incident involving lead plaintiff Rodney Hodgins, who alleges he had to drag himself down an aircraft aisle after deplaning help was not provided.
The lawsuit alleges Air Canada breached contractual obligations owed to mobility-impaired customers and points to a wider pattern of indifference toward their needs. The court rejected the airline’s argument that the matter belonged before the Canadian Transportation Agency, finding that agency proceedings would not provide the specific remedy sought by the plaintiffs and could restrict access to justice.
The ruling increases legal and reputational pressure on one of North America’s largest carriers at a time when airlines are under scrutiny over wheelchair handling, boarding and deplaning support, and broader disability-service standards. It also keeps attention on how carriers train staff and structure procedures for passengers who need assistance from gate to cabin and back again.