It might not surprise Aussies who have hopped on a plane in recent months, but flight delays and cancellations are still near record-high levels in Oz as demand outstrips supply. New data from the federal Department of Transport found 69.3% of flights arrived on time in October and 68.5% departed on time, which isn’t a great result. Qantas was the top-performing carrier over the month with a 74.2% punctuality rate, followed by Rex (68.3%), Virgin (64.9%), and Jetstar (64.4%). While it’s a slight improvement on September’s figures, stubbornly high flight delay figures have led to calls for Oz to implement a mandatory compensation system for customers who have their flights cancelled or delayed. Consumer advocacy group Choice says Australia lags behind the likes of Europe, the US, and New Zealand when it comes to protections for travellers.