Thousands of Travellers Stranded across New Zealand Amid Monstrous Weather as Airports of Wellington, Auckland, Christchurch, Napier and Palmerston North Face 148 Flight Cancellations and 200 Delays by Air New Zealand, Jetstar, Sounds Air and others

A massive low-pressure system recently slammed into New Zealand, triggering widespread aviation chaos across the country. Extreme weather forced the grounding of 148 flights, leaving thousands of travellers stranded in major hubs. Wellington bore the brunt of the storm, as gale-force winds and torrential rain halted all operations. Consequently, the disruption rippled through the networks in Auckland and Christchurch, causing a surge in delays and cancellations. Regional travel also suffered significantly, with Napier and Palmerston North reporting nearly total flight suspensions. Air New Zealand faced the heaviest impact, as its extensive domestic schedule struggled against 140 km/h gusts. Ground crews worked tirelessly, yet the sheer scale of the storm made safe departures impossible. Currently, passengers are urged to stay indoors while authorities clear debris from blocked roads. As the weather begins to ease, airlines are now focusing on clearing the massive backlog of displaced passengers safely.

Major Airports Affected

The disruption was felt most acutely at Wellington International Airport, where the severity of the gale-force winds made take-offs and landings physically impossible. A total of 70 cancellations and 48 delays were logged at the capital’s hub. For several hours, the airport remained silent as the suspension of all flights was enforced to ensure the safety of passengers and crew members.

Further north, Auckland Airport served as a primary site of delay-related frustration. While the airport remained operational, the sheer volume of traffic meant that 105 delays were recorded alongside 33 cancellations. The congestion in Auckland was exacerbated by the inability of flights to depart for or arrive from the storm-stricken capital.

In the South Island, Christchurch International Airport reported 21 cancellations and 39 delays. Although the weather in Christchurch was less severe than in the north, the interconnected nature of New Zealand domestic routes meant that many services were scrubbed due to the unavailability of aircraft stuck elsewhere. Regional hubs were not spared either; Napier faced 16 cancellations and 4 delays, while Palmerston North International Airport recorded 8 cancellations and 4 delays, effectively isolating these smaller communities from the main aviation trunk.

Impacted Airlines

The burden of the weather-induced crisis was largely borne by the national carrier, Air New Zealand. As the dominant operator in the region, the airline’s schedule was decimated. Across the five major sites of Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Napier and Palmerston North, Air New Zealand accounted for 138 cancellations and 129 delays. The airline’s regional fleet was particularly affected, with services into Napier and Palmerston North seeing nearly 100% cancellation rates during the peak of the storm.

Jetstar also faced significant operational challenges, reporting 8 cancellations and 25 delays across its network in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. The low-cost carrier’s passengers found themselves in lengthy queues as staff worked to manage the backlog of displaced travellers. Additionally, the regional operator Sounds Air was forced to cancel 2 flights and delay 10 others at Wellington, highlighting the vulnerability of smaller turboprop aircraft to the 140 km/h gusts recorded by MetService.

Beyond these specific figures, minor delays were being experienced by several other Airlines, like Air Chathams, Cathay Pacific, Korean Air, Qantas, Emirates and more.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The timing of the storm has caused considerable concern for the tourism sectors in Wellington and the surrounding regions. With ferries across the Cook Strait also canceled due to six-meter swells, the primary link between the North and South Islands was severed. This double-blow to transport infrastructure has left international and domestic tourists unable to reach their destinations, likely resulting in a significant loss of revenue for the hospitality industry.

In Wellington, the localized flooding and landslides that blocked roads in hilly suburbs prevented visitors from accessing key cultural sites and accommodations. In Napier and Palmerston North, the cancellation of regional flights often means the loss of high-value business and boutique tourism, as these visitors frequently rely on air travel for short-duration stays. The extreme weather events, which scientists note have increased in frequency across New Zealand, pose a long-term challenge to the reliability of travel itineraries, potentially deterring future visitors who require certainty in their transit plans.

What Affected Passengers Can Do Now

For the hundreds of passengers currently stranded, the immediate priority is rebooking and safety. Authorities in Wellington have urged all residents and visitors to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel until the low-pressure system moves away, which is expected by Monday morning.

Passengers are advised to check the status of their flights via airline mobile apps or websites before heading to the airport. Most carriers, including Air New Zealand and Jetstar, typically offer rebooking options or travel credits when flights are canceled due to “Acts of God” such as extreme weather. However, due to the high volume of affected individuals in Auckland and Christchurch, wait times for customer service lines are expected to be longer than usual.

Travellers should also review their travel insurance policies. Many comprehensive plans cover additional accommodation expenses incurred during weather-related delays. As MetService maintains a heavy rain watch for parts of the lower North Island, those in Napier and Palmerston North should remain vigilant. Emergency crews continue to work on clearing debris and restoring power and until the “all-clear” is given by local councils, the most prudent course of action remains to stay informed through official channels and await the stabilization of the aviation network.

-The information provided is sourced from FlightAware.

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