Air Canada has 30 days to provide a buffer zone on flights for people with nut allergies, the Canadian Transportation Agency says. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Air Canada needs to come up with a consistent policy to accomodate people with allergies to nuts, the Canadian Transportation Agency has ruled.

In its decision, the agency said severe nut allergies should be treated as a disability and travellers with allergies have to be accomodated. A spokesman for the agency says the airline has 30 days to provide a submission detailing how it will deal with passengers with nut allergies, or provide reasons why such a policy is not feasible.

In its ruling, the agency cited a nut-free zone or a buffer area as ways to accomodate people with nut allergies.

The change was triggered after Sophia Huyer and Rhonda Nugent filed a complaint with the Canadian Transportation Agency regarding difficulties they experienced while travelling with Air Canada.

Huyer and Nugent, who was filing on behalf of her daughter, Melanie Nugent, said Air Canada had difficulty accommodating their needs even after being informed of their nut allergies.

According to the Canadian Transportation Agency, on one occasion Huyer enclosed herself in a washroom on the aircraft for approximately 40 minutes during the time nuts were being served.

The agency decided Huyer and Nugent did not encounter inconveniences during their flights, but that Air Canada has not taken into account the adequate needs of people who are allergic to nuts.

"An exclusion or buffer zone where passengers within that zone will be advised that they can only eat foods that are peanut-free or nut-free and that they will only be offered peanut-free or nut-free foods as part of Air Canada's onboard snack or meal will also address the risk of other passengers eating peanuts or nuts," the agency said in its ruling.

Air Canada stopped serving peanuts years ago, but the airline still serves cashews and other snacks that contain nuts.

The Canadian Transportation Agency ruling only affects Air Canada, but could just as well become a part of all aircraft carrier policy.