B.C. court certifies wheelchair users' class-action lawsuit against Air Canada
Lead plaintiff Rodney Hodgins, who has cerebral palsy, claims he had to drag himself off a 2023 flight after staff refused assistance.
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A B.C. Supreme Court judge has certified a class-action lawsuit against Air Canada filed by passengers who use wheelchairs and mobility aids, clearing the way for the case to proceed.
Lead plaintiff Rodney Hodgins, who has spastic cerebral palsy, claims Air Canada staff failed to assist him off a flight in 2023, forcing him to physically drag himself down the aisle. The lawsuit alleges the airline breached contractual obligations to help passengers who rely on mobility aids and violated its duty to assist with physically moving passengers safely and with dignity. Hodgins also alleges the airline has a systemic "culture of apathy and indifference" toward passengers needing mobility-related assistance.
The certified class covers passengers who travelled with Air Canada between January 2021 and June 2023 and require a wheelchair to get to and from aircraft, plus assistance with steps and seating.
Air Canada argued the case should be heard by the Canadian Transportation Agency instead. The judge rejected this, finding that the agency's process would deprive class members of the specific remedy they seek and deny them substantive access to justice. The number of affected passengers and the specific monetary damages sought have not been disclosed.
How many passengers are in the certified class and experienced mobility assistance failures?
What is Air Canada's response to the certification and its plan for handling the lawsuit?
We'll update this story as answers emerge.
The facts
Who is the lead plaintiff in the Air Canada wheelchair accessibility lawsuit?
Rodney Hodgins, who has spastic cerebral palsy, is the lead plaintiff. He claims Air Canada staff refused to assist him off a flight in 2023, forcing him to drag himself down the aisle.
What time period does the certified class-action lawsuit cover?
The class covers Air Canada passengers who travelled between January 2021 and June 2023 and require a wheelchair to board or exit aircraft, plus assistance with steps and seating.
Why did the court reject Air Canada's argument to move the case to the Canadian Transportation Agency?
The judge found that the agency's process would deprive class members of the specific remedy they seek and deny them substantive access to justice.
