B.C. court certifies wheelchair users’ class-action lawsuit against Air Canada
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on brandonsun.com
- Read the Brandon Sun E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
*Your next Free Press subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.95 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.95 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
VANCOUVER – The B.C. Supreme Court has certified a class-action lawsuit filed against Air Canada by passengers who use wheelchairs and other mobility aids.
Lead plaintiff Rodney Hodgins, who has spastic cerebral palsy, claims he had to “physically drag himself” down an aisle after Air Canada staff didn’t help him off a flight in 2023.
The court certified Hodgins’ lawsuit on Tuesday, and the class includes passengers who travelled with Air Canada between January 2021 and June 2023 who require a wheelchair getting to and from an aircraft and assistance with steps and seating.
The lawsuit alleges the airline breached contractual obligations to help passengers who rely on mobility aids and to “assist with physically moving passengers safely and with dignity.”
The ruling says Hodgins alleges Air Canada has a “systemic” issue and a “culture of apathy and indifference” toward passengers who need mobility-related assistance.
The ruling says Air Canada tried to argue Hodgins’ claims would be better adjudicated by the Canadian Transportation Agency, but the judge found the agency’s process would deprive Hodgins and class members “of the specific remedy they seek,” and deny “substantive access to justice.”
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 9, 2026.