Some hope for travellers at Wellington Airport

Two planes landed successfully at Wellington Airport about midday after fog had once again disrupted thousands of travellers this morning.

Wellington International Airport's acting duty manager Wayne Cheriton said a flight from the Chatham Islands was the first to land, followed shortly after by a flight from Auckland.

But it was unclear whether the weather had cleared enough for flights to return to normal.

"The cloud base has lifted slightly but we don't know yet, we've just got to wait and see as it goes," he said.

Even if planes were now able to land and take off, things were behind schedule and it would take some time to clear backlog, he said.

By late morning a total of 100 flights had been cancelled, affecting about 8000 people, Air New Zealand spokeswoman Rosie Paul said.

At least four flights had been diverted to Palmerston North.

It is the third day in the last four that fog has forced the cancellation of flights in or out of the capital.

InterCity and Newmans Coach Lines said they were putting on extra coaches to carry passengers who had had their travel plans disrupted.

Heavy fog on Friday kept the airport closed for most of the day and affected an estimated 15,000 passengers on 270 Air New Zealand flights. Yesterday morning, early fog prevented arrivals and departures until about 10am, creating a backlog of travellers to be cleared.

A similar weather pattern caused five days of disruptions last month, affecting 500 flights and 10,000 passengers.

The spate of delays has led to renewed calls for a second airport option for the region, with the closest airport, Palmerston North, two hours' drive away.

Wellington Chamber of Commerce chief executive Charles Finny said the long-term future of Wellington's airport needed to be reviewed.

Though the airport's closure was good for hotel, rental car and taxi companies, it had a negative effect on Wellington's corporate market, Wellington Tourism chief executive Tim Cossar said.

People in the city this weekend for the Super 12 rugby match and cricket test against Australia had their plans disrupted. Last month's fog also affected thousands coming to the capital for the Sevens rugby tournament, Mr Cossar said.

Paraparaumu Airport, on the Kapiti Coast north of Wellington city, has been suggested in the past as a back-up for non-Boeing flights. It is capable of landing planes with up to 70 seats.

Ms Paul said Palmerston North airport had been a good back-up option and would not comment on whether Air New Zealand would reconsider Paraparaumu as a back-up.

- NZPA