Court rules against AirAsia in decade-long disability discrimination case

The Municipal Trial Court in Cities (MTCC), Branch 1, in Puerto Princesa City, Palawan, handed down its decision on October 29 against the former senior cabin crew member who denied boarding to passenger Khalil Haj over a decade ago. The court determined that the refusal to allow Haj to travel was discriminatory and unsupported by genuine safety concerns related to his deafness.

The case stemmed from a 2017 incident when Haj was prevented from boarding an AirAsia flight solely based on his disability. Throughout the protracted legal proceedings, the airline maintained that safety protocols necessitated the exclusion, a position the court ultimately rejected. Judges found no substantive evidence that Haj's deaf status posed any credible threat to flight operations or passenger welfare.

The ruling represents a significant victory for disability rights advocates in the Philippines, establishing important precedent regarding equal access to transportation services. The court's decision affirms that airlines cannot arbitrarily restrict services to persons with disabilities without demonstrable, safety-based justifications. The penalty imposed on the crew member underscores the legal consequences of discriminatory conduct in commercial aviation.