Air Canada Faces Backlash for Failing to Provide Wheelchair Assistance

Air Canada has come under severe criticism after it failed to provide a wheelchair to a person with spastic cerebral palsy. Rodney Hodkins and his wife, Deanna Hodgins, flew to Las Vegas to celebrate their anniversary. However, upon landing, they were informed by a flight attendant that there was no time to provide a wheelchair inside the flight.

In a scathing Facebook post, Deanna expressed her frustration and explained that when she informed the crew member about her husband’s inability to walk, they responded unhelpfully, stating that they needed to turn the plane around for another flight. With no assistance available, Rodney had to drag himself from the back to the front of the plane, while Deanna held his legs up.

Deanna’s Facebook post quickly went viral, with many sharing similar experiences with the airline. Speaking to CBC News, Rodney revealed that the incident caused him immense pain for several days and ruined their much-awaited vacation. While the airline offered them flight vouchers as compensation, the couple refused to accept them. They are calling for Air Canada to improve accessibility for people with disabilities.

In response, Air Canada released a media statement acknowledging their shortcomings and promising to investigate the matter. The statement mentioned that they use the services of a third-party wheelchair assistance specialist in Las Vegas and will be evaluating other mobility assistance partners going forward.

This is not the first time Air Canada has faced criticism for failing to provide mobility assistance services. The airline previously misplaced the wheelchair of Canada’s chief accessibility officer, Stephanie Cadieux. In a LinkedIn post, Cadieux spoke about the incident and advocated for better accessibility, emphasizing the importance of treating wheelchairs as vital extensions of individuals’ bodies.

As the airline faces backlash and calls for improved accessibility, it remains to be seen how they will address these concerns and ensure a more inclusive travel experience for all passengers.