Air Canada to face government after mishandling disabled pax | Airlines

Air Canada has been summoned by the Canadian federal government to address a series of high-profile incidents involving the airline’s mishandling of passengers with disabilities.

Canada’s Transportation Minister Pablo Rodriguez said via social media X (formerly Twitter) that he has summoned the flag carrier to meet with him and the Minister of Diversity, Inclusion and Persons with Disabilities to address the series of unfortunate incidents.

Rodriguez also said that he was “horrified” to learn of another incident, referring to 49-year old Vancouver resident Rodney Hodgins, who has spastic cerebral palsy, and was forced to drag himself off an Air Canada aircraft when the carrier failed to provide wheelchair assistance.

The second incident involved Canada’s Chief Disability Officer, Stephanie Cadiuex who took to social media to share her disappointing experience after Air Canada lost her wheelchair during a cross-country flight.

During the IATA Accessibility Symposium in October 2023, Cadieux said: “Travel is central to so many of our lives. The sector needs to focus on each traveler as an individual customer. People with disabilities need to be treated humanely not as a carry-on, or wheelchair, but as a passenger.”

The third incident involved 44-year old professional standup comedian Ryan…

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