Auckland Airport tech outage causes delays for international travellers: Domestic flights now affected

A technical issue at Auckland Airport is causing long delays.

Travellers are caught up in big delays at Auckland International Airport this morning after a tech outage disrupted check-in processes.

An airport spokesperson said the team was working as quickly as possible with external parties to resolve the issue.

One airline boss described the international check-in chaos as a ‘Third World disgrace" as it is revealed airlines were notified at 11pm last night.

On its website, Auckland International Airport is instructing passengers on the 17 flights departing between 8.20am and 9.20am to “relax”, as passengers wait in long queues, unable to check in.

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Air New Zealand general manager airports Kate Boyer said the outage “may” lead to delays for international flights.

She said domestic flights were acutely affected due to staff having to manually deliver paperwork for the international flights.

Social media posts said the lines were trailing out the door and there was no room to move or sit down.

An NZME reporter at the airport said the “massive” crowds at the check-in counter were almost reaching the entrance.

“Dozens of additional barriers have been set up to accommodate the queues.”

She said travellers’ families and friends are being asked to leave the check-in area to ease congestion.

The crowds are growing at Auckland Airport after a technology fault caused issues with the check-in service.

Dominic, who is trying to get to Brisbane, said there were “hundreds” of people around him waiting for answers from airport staff.

“It’s an absolute disaster.”

He said the walkways were “filled” with people so no one knew what station they were supposed to be at, nor could they reach their correct area.

Dominic said he was told by staff the issue arose at 2.30am.

He was angry he had not received any notice before arriving.

He was “surprised by the calmness” of the passengers waiting but was unsure how long it would last.

A technical issue at Auckland Airport is causing long delays with international flights.

A traveller caught in the queues posted on Reddit that lines were “out the door” and “nothing was moving”.

Another person said there was no room to move, stand or sit.

Airport staff are offering passengers water and snacks while the issue is being resolved.

“For information about how this may be impacting flights today, travellers are asked to please get in touch with their airline for further details. Not all airlines are being impacted by the outage.”

Passengers say they have been waiting in the lines for hours.

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