Airport fog disrupts more than 1000 passengers

Fog has finally lifted at Wellington and Christchurch airports this morning after flights were cancelled at both centres last night.

But more than 1000 passengers still have disrupted travel plans today, with airlines desperately trying to clear the backlog.

Air New Zealand spokesman Mike Tod said it will take a while to get the backlog sorted out.

"It'll take at least all day today [to clear the backlog]," Mr Tod said.

But he said he hopes everything will be back to normal by tomorrow.

A Wellington airport spokesman said no planes were ready to leave Wellington airport this morning, and passengers have had to wait for planes to land before any flights will be able to take off.

But he said flights should be ready to leave shortly.

"We're very confident that we'll be flying all day."

"Domestic flights are all looking pretty good...this morning we've had low clouds, but no fog."

Mr Tod said there was a backlog of people waiting to leave Christchurch airport, but Air New Zealand aimed to clear affected passengers this morning.

Christchurch airport spokesman said all services were "back in action"

It was the 14th time this year Wellington airport had been closed by fog.

A planned day and a half whirlwind tour of Masterton this week by the mayor and delegates from Masterton's sister city, Changchun, in China, had to be cancelled when the fog closed Wellington airport.

Masterton Mayor Bob Francis said the cancellation of the trip was "very disappointing" as all the activities the council had organised had to be indefinitely postponed.

- NZPA