After devastating floods forced it to close for about 36 hours, Auckland Airport says some 20,000 international travellers departed on flights on Sunday, while another 25,000 or so passengers were expected to have departed today (Monday).
[UPDATED 30 JANUARY 2023]
While the airport is slowing getting back on track, AKL said in a statement that it was still experiencing “high volumes” of people inside its international terminal seeking to rebook flights.
“We appreciate it’s taking time for some people to reschedule their flights, and the frustration and distress delays to travel can cause,” Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui said.
“Our goal remains to get people home as soon as possible, but the reality is there is huge backlog of flights to get through following the impact of severe flooding.
“It’s really busy at the terminal and it’s going to take time for normal international flight operations to fully get back up to speed.”
Consequently, Hurihanganui urged passengers to only travel to the airport “if they have their flight booked and scheduled for travel that day”.
“These steps will reduce congestion in the terminal and help us focus on the job of getting people home as soon as possible,” the AKL boss said.
Air New Zealand moved to assure passengers travel advisors that upcoming flights will be operating.
“If a flight is affected by a delay, we will contact customers directly using the details provided in the PNR,” it said.
“Please ensure customer contact information and Airpoints numbers are available in all bookings.”
NZ travel company thanks travellers
Meanwhile, managing director of New Zealand holiday specialist ANZCRO, Nick Guthrey, and his reservations team worked across the weekend to help travellers affected by the floods.
As well as commending AKL on its efforts to restart flights quickly, Gathers told Karryon that ANZCRO’s customers had shown patience and understood that the situation was beyond anyone’s control.
“Most airlines have offered extended flexibility with re-booking fares until 13 February, which will help resolve any impacted travel arrangements,” Guthrey added.
“The best thing we can advise travellers heading to Auckland – and please keep in mind, it is just Auckland, the Coromandel region and Waitomo that are affected – is to stay connected with their airline for the latest updates.”
The situation in Auckland
Auckland, New Zealand’s largest city of 1.6 million people, remained under a state of emergency on Sunday after it experienced its wettest-ever day on Friday, sparking floods that have killed four people.
The focus of the emergency has since moved south, with Waitomo District – about 220 kilometres from Auckland – declaring a state of emergency late on Saturday.
The nation’s weather forecaster, MetService, warned of more severe weather on Sunday and Monday for the north island, including in Auckland, where severe thunderstorms were possible. Intense rainfall could also cause surface and flash flooding, MetService said.
Police said they were assisting with traffic management and road closures in Waitomo District on Sunday after heavy rainfall “caused numerous slips, flooding and damage to roads”.
In nearby Bay of Plenty, there was also “widespread flooding”, police said, as well as a landslide that had knocked down a house and was threatening neighbouring properties.
“Police are asking those in areas experiencing severe weather to … not attempt to travel on the roads, many of which are currently undriveable,” police said.
City rainfall records were broken in the weather event caused by warm air descending from the tropics.
Auckland Airport logged 249mm in the 24 hours to 9 am Saturday, beating the 1985 high of 161.8mm.
What’s the travel update?
Flights have resumed at Auckland Airport, which had closed domestic and international operations on Friday due to the ground floor flooding of the terminal and the runway.
- Jetstar flight JQ202 to Sydney departed just before 7 am on Saturday 29th, the first international passenger flight out of Auckland Airport since the temporary closure.
- Air NZ flight NZ5 from LAX was the first to arrive at 7:20 am, with 355 passengers.
- More than 1000 meals, 500 blankets and hundreds of water bottles and fruit were given to passengers yesterday and last night, with families and elderly sleeping overnight at the Auckland Airport Marae, Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa
- 1000+ travellers are currently at the international terminal. International flight schedules will take some time to normalise.
On Friday evening, around 200 passengers due to fly to Sydney on Qantas QF148 were forced to stay onboard the plane late into the night while floods inundated the tarmac of Auckland airport. The flight had been cancelled after the passengers had boarded.
According to the Daily Mail, passengers onboard were served meals, and drinks and well looked after. They were also allowed time to stretch their legs in the aerobridge connecting the plane to the terminal before finally being able to return to the terminal around 2 am.
Advice for travellers over the coming days
- Only those passengers with an international flight booked and scheduled should come to the international terminal.
- Airline schedules may be disrupted for several days as operations gradually return to normal.
- Air New Zealand is advising customers to check their website’s arrival and departure page for updated departure times.
- Domestic terminal operations continue as usual.
For the latest Auckland Airport updates, head to: www.aucklandairport.co.nz
Via AAP
