After months of reduced air travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic, airlines in Canada say theyB次元官网网址檙e ready to contend with what could be a turbulent summer season.

Air Canada said it has seen an uptick in disturbances on flights since the beginning of the pandemic, but did not provide any details.

In the U.S., where air travel has increased significantly in recent weeks, Southwest Airlines and American Airlines have announced the suspension of alcoholic beverage services because of incidents of passenger disruption, including violent assaults on flight attendants.

Timothy Perry, president of Air Line Pilots Association Canada, said in an interview Tuesday that thereB次元官网网址檚 been an increase in disruptive passenger behaviour since the beginning of the pandemic.

B次元官网网址淚 think all flight crew have taken notice in the increase in unruly behaviour among passengers, however I do also believe that while concerning, I donB次元官网网址檛 think the flight crew are concerned about the ability to handle it,B次元官网网址� Perry said.

Perry said flight crew training, which includes de-escalation strategies, and other protocols will help protect the safety of the crew and passengers in the event of an onboard disturbance.

WestJet also said that while unruly situations are B次元官网网址渆xtremely rare,B次元官网网址� flight crews are trained to manage such incidents.

An Air Canada spokesperson said compliance issues are dealt with B次元官网网址減rimarily through education, using our standard procedures.B次元官网网址�

Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of CUPE, did not say if crew members have noticed increased disturbances on flights but did say the safety of the flight crew was an ongoing issue for the union.

B次元官网网址淩owdy behaviour is never appropriate, but especially the year weB次元官网网址檝e had, any aggression or unruly conduct onboard or towards cabin crew is just unacceptable,B次元官网网址� Lesosky said in an email. B次元官网网址淐abin crew have a hard enough job as it is, being tasked with enforcing mask compliance, monitoring alcohol consumption, and ensuring the travelling public is safe.B次元官网网址�

Air Canada and WestJet did not respond to queries about their in-flight alcohol policies.

However, Perry said restricting alcohol in some or all parts of a plane isnB次元官网网址檛 an unusual tactic on Canadian flights.

B次元官网网址淭hat has happened and to be honest, that happens more than you might think,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淢ost people enjoy alcohol responsibly on the plane, sometimes thatB次元官网网址檚 not possible and one of the very first steps in de-escalating unruly behaviour B次元官网网址� is to cut off alcohol to part of the cabin or all of the cabin.B次元官网网址�

Transport Canada did not respond to a request for comment on how many incidents have been reported on-board flights in the last year.

B次元官网网址擳he Canadian Press