Air NZ seeks compensation for Auckland bag problems

Air New Zealand is seeking to recover more than $200,000 it says teething problems with Auckland Airport's new baggage system has cost it.

The company says the system has, on occasion, failed to deliver bags to departing aircraft and sent them to the wrong area, causing flight delays and requiring bags to be sent again.

Chief financial officer Rob McDonald said 897 pieces of luggage had missed flights between December 12 and January 31 and 34 flights were delayed in those two months because of the problem.

An airline spokeswoman said lost revenue had amounted to $228,000 and the airline planned to seek compensation from Auckland International Airport.

The problem has also affected Qantas.

The international terminal installed the new $75 million departure deck and baggage screening system late last year to meet new requirements of separating departing passengers from those arriving and screening all bags before they go into aircraft holds.

Airport spokesman Don Huse said there had been "one or two" teething issues but the company was otherwise pleased with the way the commissioning process had gone.

He told National Radio more investigation was needed before blame was laid for any problems.

"There can be delays in the system - very infrequent - which could be our responsibility, it could be an airline responsibility, it could be a baggage-handling responsibility."

- NZPA