There have been a number of delays and cancellations today of flights heading in and out of airports nationwide due to fog and severe weather warnings.
There’s hope for hundreds of stranded travellers this afternoon with Air NZ confirming it is putting on additional flights in a bid to get desperate customers back to their families for Christmas.
Passengers at Wellington Airport were told to return home following multiple flight cancellations due to weather this morning. Photo / Ilana Hanna
Eighteen flights into Auckland Airport have been delayed today and five were cancelled, causing headaches for travellers trying to reach loved ones and backlogs for airlines and airport staff.
It comes as severe weather is anticipated for the Auckland region, Hawke’s Bay, the Tararua district and the South Island’s West Coast.
MetService is also keeping an eye on rain near Mount Taranaki and around Motueka, at the top of the South Island.
Earlier today, customers whose flights were cancelled were told to head home and try to rebook, with no offer of compensation.
But the airline says it is now putting on additional flights to Nelson from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Blenheim to address the backlog.
Weather has forced the cancellations or delays of multiple flights throughout the country this morning. / Brett Phibbs
Head of flight operations, Captain Hugh Pearce said Air NZ was re-accommodating affected customers, “ensuring they get to their destination in time for Christmas”.
The airline was rebooking affected customers on additional flights today, or the next available flight of their choice.
“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while we work through this weather disruption.”
According to Auckland Airport’s website, all five canned flights were from Nelson.
Of the flights into Auckland Airport that were delayed, six were from Blenheim, two were from New Plymouth, three were from the Bay of Islands, two were from Tauranga, two were from Napier, two were from Taupō and one was from Nelson.
A flight on Christmas Day from Auckland to Wellington has been cancelled.
Auckland Airport has been contacted for comment.
A Nelson Airport spokesperson confirmed fog is to blame for the disruptions. Delays are flagged for Blenheim, New Plymouth, the Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Taupō and Nelson.
According to Wellington Airport’s website, a flight into Wellington from Nelson was cancelled earlier today.
A flight from Gisborne to Wellington was delayed, as was a flight from Blenheim to Wellington.
NZME journalist Ilona Hanne was at Wellington Airport this morning when it was announced the Air New Zealand service to Nelson was cancelled.
She said when the announcement was made that the flight to Nelson wasn’t going to be running, it had already been delayed.
“There was a very clear statement that the later flights in the day are already full, and there were no available flights now a seat today or tomorrow. So people were told pack up, go home, and make alternate plans for Christmas,” she said.
Of the flights into Auckland Airport that were delayed, six were from Blenheim, two were from New Plymouth, three were from the Bay of Islands, two were from Tauranga, two were from Napier, two were from Taupō and one was from Nelson. Photo / 123rf
She said because the cancellations were weather-related, passengers were told there would be no compensation.
She spoke with a passenger on an affected flight, who did not want to be named, who had bags full of presents for her grandchildren.
The woman was unable to get updates on her phone.
“So she had no idea what was happening other than fact she was headed home alone for Christmas and wasn’t going to see her grandkids.”
Hanne said an Air New Zealand staff member was walking along the queue and talking to people, and they did speak to the woman in order to help her out.
Another passenger told her they did not have any food in their fridge at home and now had a three-hour return drive ahead of them.
“It’s not just missing a flight here, it’s that there’s a whole reshuffling of a big day for people.”
She said most passengers seemed resigned to the announcements rather than upset.
“There were more eye rolls and tuts more than anything. But yeah, the lady I spoke to was obviously quite upset and feeling a little bit out of the loop. She didn’t know what was going on.”
Five domestic flights out of Auckland Airport today have been cancelled, all of them to Nelson, according to its website.
Air New Zealand head of flight operations Captain Hugh Pearce said three flights have had to be cancelled in Nelson due to weather.
Flights between Christchurch and Hokitika have also had to be cancelled because of weather, and all customers were being rebooked on the next available service, he said.
“We’d like to thank customers for their patience and understanding while we work through this weather disruption.”
Metservice has issued a severe thunderstorm watch for Auckland from 1pm to 8pm today. Photo / Grant Bradley
A Nelson Airport spokesperson said fog had unfortunately caused disruption to flights heading in and out of Nelson this morning.
“At this stage, it looks as though four departures and four arrivals have been cancelled, affecting flights to and from Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington.”
“We’ve added additional flights from Auckland, Blenheim, Wellington and Christchurch, as well as a bus service to support these customers, ensuring they get to their destination in time for Christmas today.”
