An estimated 9.8 inches of rainfall inundated Auckland on January 27, 2023, usually equivalent to an entire summer精东影业 worth of rain for the city. The airport was duly forced to shut down when a state of emergency was declared, leaving hundreds stranded.

Now, the Auckland Council has revealed the airport精东影业 plans for the coming decade to reduce the impact of future extreme weather events. 

According to flooding and sustainability manager Ellie Callard, Auckland, like most airports, contains a lot of concrete, runways and buildings, but at the same time, the airport also makes a huge investment in stormwater.

According to a 2020 by ResourceWatch, the reason airports are threatened by flooding or sea level rise is the fact that many of them capitalize on low, flat areas, as required for long runways to facilitate takeoff and landing. This type of land is typically found near large bodies of water 鈥� wetlands, marshlands and floodplains 鈥� and such areas are especially susceptible to sea level rise and storm surge.

Auckland Council claims that the airport is investing in 鈥渨orld-leading technology鈥� designed to improve catchment, filtration and water quality discharge. The airport plans to use biofiltering technology and improved wetland management techniques that will capture, retain and treat stormwater on site, in a first for New Zealand.

AKL Airport is also working to restore contaminated land, historically used for firefighting training, and is working with iwi (Maori tribes) and community groups on coastal and community clean-ups, planting programs and wildlife protection.

Auckland Airport resumes operations after being shut due to floods

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-01-30

New Zealand Customs Service identified the woman as Delphine Ganon, aged 42. Ganon arrived at Auckland Airport in April 2023, and was stopped for questioning by a customs officer.

After a resulting series of investigations and searches, Ganon精东影业 suitcase was found to contain white powder in the lining that tested positive as cocaine. Five cosmetic bottle containers also contained substances that tested positive as liquified cocaine.

According to New Zealand Customs, the 4.3 kilograms of cocaine recovered from the suitcase and cosmetics bottles would have produced around 43,300 common doses, with an estimated total street value of up to NZ$1.94 million ($1.17 million). 

It精东影业 estimated that the seizing of these substances may have prevented up to NZ$1.29 million ($780,000) of social harm and cost to New Zealand.

鈥淐ustoms remains ever-alert in our daily fight to stop the flow of illegal drugs from entering New Zealand. Our officers are well-equipped to identify and stop people who think they can bring illegal substances into our communities,鈥� Paul Williams, Customs Manager at Auckland Airport said in a statement.

Ganon appeared in the Manukau District Court on May 9, 2024, and was convicted for importing and possessing a Class A controlled drug (cocaine).

Four Vietnam Airlines flight attendants arrested for smuggling drugs from Paris

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-03-20

The seasonal flights began on April 2, 2024, and will operate until October 26, 2024. 

The flights will be operated using the airline精东影业 fleet of A321neo aircraft. The route is currently being flown twice weekly, every Tuesday and Saturday, but will also include Thursday flights starting June 25, 2024.

鈥淲e鈥檙e thrilled to welcome our seasonal services back to Cairns and look forward to welcoming even more Aussies onboard over the next few months,鈥� Air New Zealand精东影业 General Manager of Australia, Kathryn O鈥橞rien was quoted to have said by Australian media. 

鈥淲hether you鈥檙e an adventure seeker, looking for a family getaway or a solo traveler, New Zealand has something for everyone, including stunning snow-capped mountains and pristine beaches,鈥� O鈥橞rien continued.

In 2023 1.26 million Australians traveled to New Zealand, making it the second most visited country by Australians. The first destination was Indonesia, which welcomed 1.27 million.

Passengers claim Air New Zealand kicked them off flight for being 鈥榯oo big鈥�

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2024-03-18

The Malaysian low-cost carrier started the route 16 years ago, but suspended it prior to the pandemic. The airline has now opted to reinstate it due to popular demand. 

At the same time, however, the airline announced that it will be suspending services on the Auckland Airport to Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) route from January 31, 2024.

鈥淔ollowing a thorough network review, we have decided to suspend our services between Sydney and Auckland from late January next year. However, we remain committed to Auckland as a destination and will be transferring our services from Auckland to Gold Coast,鈥� AirAsia X CEO Benyamin Ismail said in a press statement.

Ismail said that the Gold Coast continues to be a favorite key leisure destination for travelers from Auckland and Asia due to its renowned white sand beaches and theme parks. The Gold Coast is also a hugely popular destination for visiting friends and family and also for students.

Queensland Airports Chief Commercial Officer Adam Rowe said that the return of AirAsia X精东影业 Gold Coast to Auckland connection would provide travelers with more options.

鈥淔lights between the Gold Coast and Auckland are our busiest international connection, with more than 220,000 passengers traveling on that route since January. Around 60 percent of passengers traveling between the Gold Coast and New Zealand fly to or from Auckland, and the return of this service will add more than 350,000 extra seats on that route annually,鈥� Rowe said.

Swifties not amused

Not everyone is pleased with AirAsia精东影业 decision to axe the trans-Tasman route between Auckland and Sydney. 

Taylor Swift fans attending the singer精东影业 Sydney concert in February 2024 are among those affected by the suspension of the route. 

Many of those who have booked flights via AirAsia have aired grievances to New Zealand media outlet , stating that they are confused and have been left in the dark regarding their affected flight bookings. 

An AirAsia spokesperson told Stuff that full refunds and credits are available for affected guests, adding that information on how to make a claim can be found on the airline精东影业 website.

AirAsia CEO Tony Fernandes criticized for holding meeting while shirtless

• Airlines

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-10-20

The major expansion, which begins at the end of 2023, will see United Airlines operate more flights between the United States, Australia and New Zealand than other US carriers鈥� routes combined.

Starting October 28, 2023, United will fly direct from Los Angeles to Auckland, New Zealand four times weekly, and will boost its frequency of San Francisco to Auckland flights from three times a week to daily.

From November 29, 2023, the airline will launch a new Los Angeles – Brisbane route three times weekly. 

Starting October 28, 2023, it will also increase the frequency of the following routes: San Francisco – Brisbane route to daily, and also San Francisco – Sydney to twice daily.

United will also begin a seasonal thrice weekly route from Houston International Airport (IAH) to Sydney starting October 29, 2023. From November 29, 2023, this will be ramped up to daily flights.

From December 1, 2023, United will introduce another new route, a thrice weekly San Francisco – Christchurch route.

US – Australia relations

The United States and Australia have enjoyed a since 2005.  More than 97% of Australia’s non-agricultural exports to the United States (excluding textiles and clothing) are duty free.

In 2020, 15 years since the Free Trade Agreement began, goods and services trade between the two countries almost doubled.

Next to New Zealanders, Americans make up the top visitors to Australia. 

In 2019, more than 713,800 visited Australia. Though the number decreased at the height of COVID-19, plenty of Americans have chosen to . 

Over the last 10 years, the United States has been welcoming a The most recorded was in 2015, where an estimated 1.4 million Australians visited the US.

It is also worth noting that after the Summer Olympics in Paris in 2024, the succeeding city hosts for the 2028 and 2032 Summer Olympics are Los Angeles and Brisbane, respectively.聽

United Airlines posts $194 million loss in Q1 2023 due to cost overruns

• Airlines
• Aviation Economics & Finance

byRytis Beresnevicius

2023-04-19

The airport announced that the improvements will include a new domestic terminal which will be fully integrated into the international terminal.

In its , the airport said that the project would replace the 57-year-old domestic terminal, at a cost of NZ 2.2 B ($1.37B)  and that it is set to open between 2028 and 2029.

The remainder of the cost, NZ 1.7B ($1.06B), will be for other projects associated with the integration, including forecast increases in construction costs and holding costs.

鈥淭his is a major investment for Auckland Airport, one which we have been working towards for many years,鈥� Patrick Strange, Auckland Airport精东影业 chair said in a dated March 17, 2023.

鈥淭he domestic terminal is almost 60 years old and needs replacing. It精东影业 nearing capacity and it精东影业 no longer fit for purpose and hasn鈥檛 been for some time. If it wasn鈥檛 for the pandemic, we would already be well underway with its replacement,鈥� Strange further said. 

Strange also mentioned that for over a decade, the airport had been consulting with major airline customers regarding the domestic terminal精东影业 integration with the international terminal. 

The terminal integration program will bring domestic travel and international travel together under the same roof for the first time since 1977, via an expansion at the eastern end of the existing international terminal building.

鈥淎 new domestic terminal integrated into the international terminal will make Auckland Airport fit for the future, providing a much-improved experience for travelers 鈥� something they鈥檝e clearly and repeatedly told us they want,鈥� Carrie Hurihanganui, Auckland Airport精东影业 chief executive said in the same statement.

鈥淭hey鈥檙e asking for a domestic facility that offers modern spaces, efficient passenger processing areas, improved bathroom facilities and faster baggage systems, as well as better connections between domestic and international travel and via public transport and the city.In short, renovations just won鈥檛 cut it anymore,鈥� Hurihanganui added.

The combined terminal is set to open at some point between 2028 and 2029, and will serve the larger and more efficient domestic jet aircraft flying to and from Auckland to New Zealand精东影业 other main centers, alongside international operations.

Auckland Airport resumes operations after being shut due to floods

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-01-30

On Friday February 10, 2023, Australia’s weather bureau upgraded the cyclone to a category 3 storm, which can generate winds of 118-159 km per hour and gusts up to 224 kph (140 mph).

In New Zealand, the country精东影业 has issued a 26-hour yellow weather watch from 10am on Monday February 13, 2023, to noon on Tuesday February 14, 2023. However, residents have been advised to expect impact from the cyclone as of Sunday.

Tropical Cyclone Gabrielle is currently located in the Coral Sea and is expected to move southeast towards New Zealand over the coming days.

The NZ Met Service said it is 鈥榚xpecting a significant weather event鈥� with 鈥榮trong wind, heavy rain and large swell鈥�.

Cyclone Gabrielle is predicted to fall on north island areas including Waikato and Waitomo, across to the Bay of Plenty and Gisborne, Taupo and Taihape.

The duration of the event and the strength of the wind is highly dependent on the track of Cyclone Gabrielle and the weather watch could be upgraded to an orange or possibly even red in the coming days.

Auckland Airport is having to prepare for Cyclone Gabrielle only weeks after torrential rain left terminals flooded and passengers wading through water.

The airport has announced that every part of their system is currently hard at work to make sure its staff and operations are ready to safely manage the predicted weather.

Inside the terminals, supplies of blankets, water, snack food and essentials will be on hand to 鈥榮upport stranded travelers while they ride out the weather鈥�.

鈥淥n the airfield, the integrity of the runway and the safe movement of aircraft come first, and our team will be monitoring the airfield continuously throughout the severe weather. If they see any risk of foreign object debris, we will immediately close the runway 鈥� something that is standard practice for us regardless of weather conditions,鈥� said Auckland Airport Chief Executive Carrie Hurihanganui.

In preparation for Cyclone Gabrielle, Air New Zealand is offering fare flexibility to any customers booked to travel to, from or through Auckland, Whangarei, Kerikeri, Tauranga, Hamilton and New Plymouth between Sunday February 12, 2023, and Friday, February 17, 2023.

The airline has confirmed it is working with relevant authorities to understand the severity of the cyclone and warned customers to prepare for some delays and cancellations.

“Teams around the business have kicked into gear to start planning for any disruptions to our network due to Cyclone Gabrielle. We will do everything we can to limit the impact on our schedule. However, with severe winds forecast for the North Island, it’s likely we’ll need to make some changes,鈥� said Air New Zealand chief customer and sales officer Leanne Geraghty.

Auckland Airport resumes operations after being shut due to floods

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-01-30

The aircraft, which landed at AKL on Air NZ精东影业 scheduled flight NZ124 from Melbourne Airport (MEL), Australia, briefly lost directional control and veered away from the runway精东影业 centerline. The line identifies the center of the runway and provides alignment guidance during take-off and landings for pilots. 

According to New Zealand investigators, the pilot successfully regained control of the aircraft, completed the landing and taxied the widebody jet to its designated terminal. 

Air New Zealand精东影业 Boeing 777-300ER was landing at AKL during difficult weather, with gusts of wind and heavy rain flooding the airport精东影业 facilities. Auckland saw an estimated 9.8 inches of rainfall, equal to an entire summer精东影业 worth of rain. 

After being closed on January 27, 2023, AKL resumed operations on January 28, 2023, with international flights beginning to land the following day. 

Auckland Airport resumes operations after being shut due to floods

• Airport

byJean Carmela Lim

2023-01-30

鈥淭here was damage reported to six runway edge lights and to the aircraft精东影业 undercarriage assembly, including deflation of one tire,鈥� stated Naveen Kozhuppakalam, the Chief Investigators of Accidents at the TAIC. According to Kozhuppakalam, no injuries were reported, with the chief adding that the investigation team will interview the flight crew, Air Traffic Control (ATC), other staff, and witnesses. 

鈥淭hey will also inspect the aircraft and runway systems, examining the site of the incident, obtaining any electronic recorded data and records,鈥� he added. 

The Air New Zealand Boeing 777-300ER has since been in AKL, with its flight to MEL, scheduled on January 29, 2023, being canceled, according to flightradar24.com data. 

Rising like a phoenix: Air New Zealand to restore Boeing 777s

• Aircraft

byGabriele Petrauskaite

2022-08-17

The problem first emerged when in early December 2022, a faulty shipment of jet fuel arrived in the country. According to Z Energy, a fuel distributor in the country, the conductivity of the imported fuel was above the allowed threshold, the company精东影业 spokesperson was as saying by Radio New Zealand. 

New jet fuel shipments 

Following the import of faulty jet fuel, airports and airlines have monitored the situation and whether it would impact their operations in the near future. 

What has made the situation worse was that New Zealand精东影业 only oil refinery, namely Marsden Point, was converted into an import-only facility in April 2022. The site 鈥� lying a few hours鈥� drive north of Auckland 鈥� transitioned to only import oil and its derivatives, a decision that was finalized in November 2021. 

鈥淚n response to a significant decline in refining margins as a result of excess refining capacity in the Asian region, Refining NZ initiated a strategic review of the business in April 2020, to determine the optimal future business model and capital structure for the Company精东影业 future,鈥� the company justified at the time. 

The faulty shipment was caught at the terminal and was shipped overseas to be reprocessed. According to Paul Stocks, the Deputy Secretary of Building, Resources, and Markets, at New Zealand精东影业 Ministry of Business, Innovation, and Employment, a new shipment arrived in New Zealand on December 12, 2022. It is expected to be available for use on December 18, 2022.

鈥淭wo further shipments are set to arrive in the country before Christmas, this includes a replacement shipment for the off-spec fuel shipment,鈥� said Stocks in a statement to 精东影业. 鈥淚n the meantime, fuel suppliers have begun rationing fuel to ensure supply until new supply is available. Airlines and fuel companies are doing everything they can to minimize the impact on customers.鈥� 

Disruptions to airline operations in New Zealand 

While at first, no schedule changes were visible on flights to and from the country, some airlines have now added extra stops to seemingly mitigate any impact the shortages could have. 

For example, American Airlines Flight AA35 from Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) to Auckland Airport (AKL) now also stops at Christchurch International Airport (CHC) on Flight AA9780. On December 12, 2022, an American Airlines Boeing 787 Dreamliner (registered as N834AA), flew from DFW to AKL, then departed for an hour-long flight from AKL to CHC and back, before returning to Dallas.聽

Analysts: More efficient to build new Boeing 787s than restore them

• Civil Aviation

byRytis Beresnevicius

2022-12-06

On December 8, 2022, though, another AA Dreamliner (registered as N821AN), flew directly from DFW to AKL, before departing the New Zealander airport for Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on December 10, 2022, flightradar24.com data showed.聽

Per New Zealand Herald, CHC精东影业 spokesperson that the stop at the airport is to refuel the aircraft before it returns to the United States. 

鈥淪ingapore Airlines is monitoring the situation closely and working with the relevant authorities to understand if our operations to Auckland will be impacted,鈥� stated Karl Schubert, a Singapore Airlines spokesperson, in a statement to 精东影业 on December 8, 2022. 鈥淭here are currently no changes to our scheduled operations. Should changes need to be made, we will inform customers accordingly.鈥�  

In an update on December 12, 2022, Schubert indicated that there were still no changes to the airline精东影业 flight schedule. 

On the same day, David Morgan, Air New Zealand精东影业 Chief Operational Integrity and Safety Officer reiterated to 精东影业 that the airline was monitoring the situation and that there were no changes at the time.

As of December 12, 2022, Air New Zealand’s operations remain fully operational, according to Morgan.

精东影业 has contacted several more representatives regarding an update on the situation at hand.聽

ATSB investigating a near-runway excursion involving a 737 and an A380

• Aviation Safety

byRytis Beresnevicius

2022-12-07