A Nigerian man, Adeola Adeyemi, who resides in Canada, has come forward to share a recent incident of racial discrimination involving his wife during a flight with Flair Airlines from Vancouver to Calgary.
According to Adeyemi, he, his wife, their 12-week-old baby, and his mother had booked seats together on the flight and had confirmed their preferred seats through their boarding passes after check-in. However, upon boarding the aircraft on Friday, April 14, they discovered that one of their seats (2A), located by the window, was already occupied by a lone white female traveler. Despite appeals from Adeyemi’s wife, the passenger refused to vacate the seat.
Adeyemi alleged that the staff of Flair Airlines did nothing to resolve the situation and even threatened to eject his wife, mother, and baby from the plane when they insisted on sitting in the seat they had paid for. He described the incident as discriminatory, stating, “This is injustice, and no other explanation makes sense other than the fact that it was discriminatory.”
A video of the incident was captured and shared on Twitter, where one of the flight attendants could be heard telling Adeyemi’s wife to calm down, despite her speaking softly.
Flair Airlines offers seat selection options for an additional fee, allowing passengers to choose their preferred seats in advance. Adeyemi mentioned that he had booked the flight in advance and paid for a bundle to ensure his family’s comfort, as he would not be traveling with them. He has written to Flair Airlines about the incident, but has yet to receive a response.
In response to the incident, some Nigerians have called out the airline and threatened to boycott their services, expressing outrage over the perceived racist treatment. Other passengers have shared similar experiences of discrimination on other airlines, highlighting the ongoing issue of racism in the aviation industry.
Adeyemi’s case sheds light on the importance of addressing discrimination in all its forms and promoting equality and inclusivity in the airline industry. It serves as a reminder that despite progress made in combating discrimination, incidents of racism and injustice persist, and efforts must continue to create a more inclusive and equitable environment for all travelers.