Air Canada has reportedly implemented a new policy for carrying sacred items on its aircraft. This policy, approved by Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak, the National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations, came in response to an incident where a First Nations chief’s headdress was taken away.
The new policy
According to a CBC report, Air Canada’s new policy will take effect on July 10, 2024. Under this policy, passengers can reserve space for sacred or traditional items by contacting Air Canada’s call center at least 24 hours in advance.
Sacred items can also be registered at the airport, but there is no guarantee they will be accommodated if space was not reserved beforehand, according to the report.
Air Canada added that if a passenger with a mobility device travels unexpectedly and there is insufficient storage space in the cabin, the mobility device will have priority. If no space is available in the cabin, the sacred item can be stored in cargo, or the customer can rebook their flight at no additional cost.
The incident sparked a policy change
An incident this year involving a sacred item belonging to a First Nations member prompted the flag carrier of Canada to update its policy.
In late April 2024, Air Canada staff attempted to store the headdress of the Assembly of First Nations National Chief in the cargo hold before a flight departed. Although the headdress was packed in a case, flight attendants informed her that it needed to be placed in cargo instead.
Woodhouse Nepinak was traveling from Montreal (YUL) to Fredericton (YFC) on a small regional aircraft, the De Havilland Canada Dash 8 turboprop. When she boarded the aircraft, she placed her headdress under the seat in front because she had already put other items in the overhead compartment.
Woodhouse Nepinak reportedly held the headdress on her lap during the flight, but the flight crew insisted that its case needed to be placed in garbage bags and stored in the cargo hold beneath the cabin.
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The airline has since apologized for the incident.
Air Canada apologized for the incident and explained that the flight was operated by a Dash-8 turboprop regional aircraft, which has limited space for carry-on items.
SOURCE: https://simpleflying.com/air-canada-policy-sacred-items/