About a third of Canadian flights are delayed each year, most recorded as within airlines’ control, documents show. The delays are adding pressure to contract negotiations between flight attendants and the country’s largest airlines.

More than 250,000 flights were affected annually between 2022 and 2024, according to Transport Canada data reviewed by the IJF. The delays are not only a flashpoint for passengers, but also for flight attendants, whose pay doesn’t begin until a plane’s doors close — even if they’re on the job.