Air Canada logos adorn the tail sections of airplanes at an airport on June 26, as captured by Adrian Wyld in a photograph for The Canadian Pre
The Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA) has imposed a fine of $97,500 on Air Canada in response to an incident in Las Vegas where a passenger using a wheelchair, Rodney Hodgins, was forced to independently navigate off the plane. The CTA cited multiple violations of the Accessible Transportation for Persons with Disabilities Regulations in its statement.
On August 30, Rodney Hodgins, a resident of Prince George, B.C., who has spastic cerebral palsy and relies on a motorized wheelchair, was informed by Air Canada crew members in Las Vegas that no assistance was available for him to disembark the plane. In a distressing situation, Hodgins had to lower himself to the floor and use his arms to drag himself from Row 12 to the front of the plane, with his wife assisting by crawling behind him. The incident, described by Hodgins as "dehumanizing," caused him considerable pain for days.
The CTA statement specifically highlighted that Air Canada not only failed to assist the wheelchair user during disembarkation but also neglected to inquire about his needs while he waited in the terminal.
Air Canada has a 30-day window to request a review before the Transportation Appeal Tribunal of Canada.
In addition to the Las Vegas incident, the CTA website discloses another fine levied on Air Canada in October 2023. On December 12, the airline was ordered to pay $52,500 for failing to allow a person with a disability to board ahead of other passengers and for not promptly returning a mobility aid to the person upon arrival at the destination.
The investigation into the Las Vegas incident was initiated by the CTA following coverage by CBC News. Subsequently, after reports surfaced about another passenger being mishandled by Air Canada crew members on a flight to Vancouver, the airline was summoned to Ottawa for a meeting with the Minister of Transportation.
On November 9, Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau issued an apology and committed to implementing internal changes to enhance the treatment of passengers with disabilities. The airline announced its intention to expedite a plan for updating the boarding process, reconfiguring the storage of mobility aids like wheelchairs, and enhancing training procedures for its extensive workforce. A new senior position will be established to oversee the effective rollout of this plan.
Following the November meeting, Transport Minister Pablo Rodriguez indicated that there would be a follow-up meeting in Ottawa before the busy holiday travel season. However, as of the latest update, the Ministry of Transportation has not responded to inquiries regarding the status of the follow-up meeting.
