Breaking Barriers: Air Canada Releases Accessibility Plan for 2026-2029

Canada’s largest airline has published its Accessibility Plan 2026–2029, outlining progress since the inaugural 2023 plan along with a new three-year plan with the goal of continually reducing barriers in travel and employment for persons with disabilities.

Air Canada’s plan details objectives, ongoing work and progress in improving accessibility at the airline across the focus areas of the Accessible Canada Act. Guided by research and consultations with experts, travellers and employees, it outlines 157 customer and employee accessibility initiatives.

“Air Canada is committed to championing accessibility in the travel industry by designing our products, services and employment practices so more people can access the services and opportunities we offer,” said President and CEO Michael Rousseau.

“We have made significant progress over the past three years, which has been possible in great part through establishing constructive relationships with national disability organizations, undertaking customer and employee focus groups and creating a robust accessibility advisory committee to pair expert insight with customer and employee experience.” 

Kerianne Wilson, Director, Customer Accessibility at Air Canada, says the priorities outlined in the plan reflect feedback from people with disabilities and where the airline can make the biggest impact. 

“Building on the foundation of our inaugural 2023 plan, our 2026–2029 plan identifies near- and long-term commitments with clear, actionable commitments to identify, prevent and remove barriers over the next three years.”

Air Canada has also created a Diverse Abilities Employee Resource Group to ensure that employees with disabilities help shape how the company removes barriers and designs a more accessible workplace. 

“By bringing lived experience into our decision-making, the Diverse Abilities Employee Resource Group is strengthening our ability to build inclusive policies, improve supports and foster greater trust and belonging,” said Christianna Scott, Director, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion & Employee Accessibility.

“Accessibility isn’t just about ramps and washrooms. It’s about ensuring every person can participate fully in their community with true independence and freedom,” said Meghan Hines, Chair of Air Canada’s Accessibility Advisory Committee. “When we design for everyone, we build places where people don’t just get access, they get to belong.”

Highlights of Air Canada’s 2026–2029 Accessibility Plan include:

• Improving the experience for customers who use power wheelchairs, such as flight options and automations, complemented by digital tracking and notifications.
• Collaborating with our partners to drive change across the flight experience, including the Accessibility Advisory Committee, airports, Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, aircraft and mobility aid manufacturers and other airlines.
• Improving the availability and quality of accessibility equipment, including passenger lifts, slings and aisle chairs.
• Improving boarding, deplaning and transfer support, including at smaller airports.
• Expanding mandatory, recurrent accessibility training grounded in lived experience.
• Improving recruitment, hiring and internships to increase employment of people with disabilities.
• Streamlining and automating workplace accommodation processes.
• Improving accessibility of office spaces, lounges and aircraft interiors.
• Embedding accessibility into digital systems, apps, websites and internal tools.
• Integrating accessibility requirements into procurement, vendors and supplier contracts.