HALIFAX — A passenger rights advocate has won an appeal against the Canadian Transportation Agency to review an airline practice he said discriminates against overweight travellers.
Gabor Lukacs says the Federal Court of Appeal has granted an appeal of the agency's decision not to look at a discrimination complaint about Delta Air Lines' practice of bumping "large" passengers unless they pay for two seats.
Lukacs filed the complaint two years ago, but the agency threw it out because it found he didn't have standing since he was not obese and wasn't directly affected by the practice.
In its decision Wednesday, the Federal Court of Appeal says the agency erred in law and should not dismiss a complaint solely because of the issue of standing.
The complaint by Lukacs arose out of an email from Delta to a passenger who felt he was cramped by a large passenger.
In apologizing to the man, Delta said "we recommend that large passengers purchase additional seats."
