Allison Lampert

MONTREAL (Reuters] – Canadian flight attendants have demanded pay for both time in-flight and ground travel. In recent weeks, they’ve been subject to delays of up to hours at Ottawa’s busiest airport because of staff shortages, increased traffic, and increasing health check requirements.

Canadian Union of Public Employees said that its members work more freely as some of the planes arrive at Toronto Pearson International Airport for up to three hour delays.

American Airlines (NASDAQ) is in talks with U.S. flight attendants. They also want to receive boarding pay.

Delta Air Lines, NYSE:), has announced it will begin paying flight attendants to board passengers from June 2.

Cabin crew demands could increase costs for airlines that are trying to recover from the slumping traffic caused by the pandemic.

Air Canada flight attendants may not be in negotiations, but delays to Toronto have reduced rest times, stated Wesley Lesosky of CUPE’s airline unit.

Lesosky stated that flight attendants now worry about summer travel delays. “As we go into the summer, our concern is cabin temperature and just people becoming unruly.”

CUPE stands for approximately 15,000 flight attendants in nine airlines including Air Canada.

Toronto business leaders including the regional board of commerce said that last Thursday, 7 000 travelers had waited more than 90 minutes for their flights.

According to the group, “Almost half of all international arrival passengers (or 100,000) were delayed last week,” which was a 20% increase from the previous two weeks.

Lesosky stated that flight attendants receive their entire pay in the air, which usually stops fifteen minutes after they arrive at the gate.

Air Canada, Canada’s biggest carrier, wasn’t immediately available to comment.

Canada’s Minister for Transport said that they are working together with the sector to decrease delays.