Inclusion Daily Express -- Panel Orders Canadian Air Carriers To Provide Seats For Attendants At No Charge

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Panel Orders Canadian Air Carriers To Provide Seats For Attendants At No Charge
By Dave Reynolds, Inclusion Daily Express
January 10, 2008

OTTAWA, ONTARIO--Airline passengers that need personal attendants to fly with them will not have to purchase a second ticket on major Canadian air carriers, following a decision by the Canadian Transportation Agency.

The two-member panel ordered Air Canada, Air Canada Jazz, and WestJet to develop and implement policies within a year to reflect the new rule.

The policy must also apply to overweight people who need two seats.

The ruling comes nearly five years after the Council of Canadians with Disabilities filed a formal complaint on behalf of two airline passengers with disabilities. In that complaint, they argued that forcing people to purchase tickets for attendants amount to discrimination.

"Canadians with disabilities are celebrating today," said Pat Danforth, Chairperson of the Council of Canadians with Disabilities Transportation Committee.

"This is about independence," said Sandra Carpenter of the Centre for Independent Living in Toronto. "It's about our ability to be part of Canadian society and to have barriers to our participation removed."

The decision brings air travel in line with other modes of travel -- such as train, bus and ferry -- which do not charge to transport attendants for passengers with disabilities.

Related:
"Canadian Transportation Agency decides in favour of one-person-one-fare policy" (Canadian Transportation Agency)
http://www.cta-otc.gc.ca/media/communique/2008/080110-2_e.html
"Decision No. 6-AT-A-2008" (Canadian Transportation Agency)
http://www.inclusiondaily.com/news/2008/red/0110a.htm

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