Fog Causes Major Disruptions at Christchurch Airport

Christchurch Airport is facing significant challenges as thick fog continues to disrupt flight operations, causing delays and cancellations across the South Island. The poor visibility has led to a cascade of problems, impacting both departing and arriving passengers.

According to Air New Zealand's chief operating officer, Alex Marren, the fog has created visibility issues that have affected operations at Christchurch and Dunedin airports. “Fog is impacting visibility and has led to some disruptions in Christchurch and Dunedin this morning,” Marren told the Herald. “The situation is compounded when aircraft which can’t land disrupts the outgoing schedule even more.”

Christchurch Airport officials confirmed that at least 20 flights were delayed and a small number of cancellations had taken place. The airport spokesperson noted that the fog was lingering longer than usual, causing additional headaches for travelers. “Unusually, it’s hanging around longer than normal,” the spokesperson said.

Several flights have been diverted to Wellington as a result of the conditions, including Air New Zealand flight ANZ531 from Auckland. The fog has also caused several inbound flights to be canceled, with at least five flights scheduled to land between 1pm and 2pm being affected. These included flights from Auckland, Wellington, Invercargill, Rotorua, and Tauranga.

Marren urged travelers to check the Air NZ app for real-time updates on their flights. As of midday, FlightRadar24’s disruption index for Christchurch Airport was at its highest level, indicating “major problems with long delays and several cancelled flights.” The average delay for arriving flights was 120 minutes, while departing flights faced an average of 51 minutes of delay.

Despite the disruptions, Christchurch Airport remains open, and some flights have managed to land, including Singapore Airlines. However, the persistent fog is making it difficult for many aircraft to operate as scheduled.

Dunedin Airport has not yet provided a statement, but flights there appear to be returning to normal. However, the situation in Christchurch remains uncertain, with more delays and cancellations expected throughout the day.

Passengers are being advised to stay informed and plan accordingly, as the fog is expected to continue affecting flight schedules for the remainder of the day.