American Airlines has introduced a new weight limit for power wheelchairs on many of its regional flights, effectively barring some disabled passengers from flying to 130 US airports. The issue was brought to light by John Morris, who wrote about being denied boarding by the airline on his site, Wheelchair Travel. In October, Morris was due to take his first flight since March, a 900-mile American Airlines service from Gainesville, Florida to Dallas, Texas. According to Morris, he had flown the route, which is operated by a CRJ-700 aircraft, 21 times previously with the carrier. However, when the triple amputee went to check in, he was asked for the weight of his power wheelchair. When he told staff it was 450lbs, he was told it was over the permitted weight limit of 400lbs and was denied boarding. Previously there had been no weight limit. The new policy had quietly been introduced in June, and requires mobility aids to weigh no more than 300-400lbs depending on the aircraft model. After contacting American Airlines, Morris was told that the new policy had been implemented “because AA was damaging too many wheelchairs during loading”. He said: “I was told that, by refusing to transport my wheelchair on regional jets, my mobility device would be safe from damage and I would be protected. That’s absurd!” Morris has estimated that the policy change means that disabled passengers with power chairs weighing more than the allowance are now effectively barred from flying to 130 US airports with American Airlines. “This is what discrimination looks like,” he said. “Remember this story the next time American Airlines claims that it is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion. It is a lie.”<br/>
oneworld
Unionised cabin crew at Cathay Pacific failed to secure any concessions from the loss-making airline after a 3½-hour meeting at Hong Kong’s Labour Department office on Wednesday. The Flight Attendants Union (FAU) will now proceed with legal action to secure a better deal for the minority of 8,000 in-flight workers who refused to sign new, cheaper employment contracts by the morning deadline. The meeting was the first time the Labour Department had mediated a sit-down between Cathay and FAU representatives since the flagship carrier announced 5,900 redundancies two weeks ago, and set the clock for remaining cabin and cockpit crew to accept new contracts or face the sack. In a bid to bolster the unionised workforce, the city’s pilots and cabin crew unions – both under intense pressure from the airline’s restructuring – signed a landmark agreement later on Wednesday to work more closely and pool resources. Tad Hazelton, chairman of the 2,200-member Hong Kong Aircrew Officers Association (HKAOA), said: “It’s a historical moment now that the two groups, because of our common circumstances, are going to go forward together from here on out, working on not just these circumstances, but any circumstances that face us in the future.” Chris Beebe, the group’s general secretary, said full details of the scope of the union’s joint efforts had yet to be fully worked out, but a comprehensive plan would be put together.<br/>
Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin are set to boost interstate flights between Victoria and New South Wales following yesterday's decision to open up domestic borders between the two states. Qantas numbers will increase from ten return flights to more than 250 flights per week over five routes from November 23, giving travellers a choice of 48,000 seats. Currently, the only Qantas route operating between Victoria and NSW is the direct Sydney to Melbourne flight, ten times per week. This route was formerly the second busiest in the world, with Qantas operating more than 100 flights per day. During lockdown this was reduced to one flight per day. The busiest Australian route is currently Brisbane-Cairns, though this may change again as borders reopen. The increase will see Qantas' capacity increase of 30% from pre-COVID levels to 40%. The carrier is expected to operate thousands of flights to and from Melbourne and regional Victoria over the summer, and will add more flights if the demand is great. <br/>