AKL Airport January 2023 - Terminal Flooding, Flights diverted

[ADLhighflyer]

AKL appears to have had major dramas this afternoon and this evening.

Firstly, NZ124 MELAKL appeared to take out same landing lights leading to a large amount of diversions (per FR24). This was followed by AKL International Terminal being flooded of water courtesy of severe weather.

No doubt a lot of people will be affected by all this.

Auckland flights delayed after runway lights hit but landing plane

https://twitter.com/x/status/1618880627838959617

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Yes will cause days of disruption. Dozens of international and international flights diverted and cancelled.

Apparently the runway lights were repaired after about 4 hours.

Flooding in the terminal looks bad but not yet known what disruption once the water recedes.

The airport has had about 2 month's worth of rain in a couple of hours (on top of heavy rain for several hours earlier in the day), and it is still raining heavily. Forecast is to remain wet for a couple more days at least.

BTW some other parts of akld city have had much more rain and worse flooding than at the airport.

 

[Lynda2475]

Im in Wellington atm and tv is full of news of Auckland flooding, looks devastating. Long weekend for them, many who were hoping to get away cant safely leave.

 

[Quickstatus]

Did the flooding come in as rain through the roof or was it flooding due to stormwater?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Did the flooding come in as rain through the roof or was it flooding due to stormwater?

There was deep water outside that entered the building. Just runoff from the heavy rain.

Numerous pictures and videos in nz media and social media.

 

[Mwenenzi]

Will take a few days before schedules/crew/aircraft are back to normal operations
A lot of diversions to CHC and many cancellations.
NZ90 NRT-AKL looks to going to BNE. Not all pax will be eligible for entry into AU

RNZ.co.nz-->Live updates on Auckland flooding: Damage to be assessed as region in state of emergency

Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says up to 1000 people are still stranded at Auckland Airport, and right across the region there are many people just stuck somewhere.

The airport says no domestic or international flights will be arriving or departing before noon today.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

AKL closed until at least noon today.

Auckland Airport

Auckland Airport is a major airline hub in New Zealand and there are many domestic and international destinations for visitors to continue on to.

www.aucklandairport.co.nz

Intl diversions to wlg, chc, syd, bne, rar, nan, lax, dxb, yvr, hnl, may be others.
Dom diversions to wlg, chc, dud, hlz, trg, npl, may be others.

Even if akl reopens this afternoon this will take several days to get back to normal flight schedules with so many a/c and crew out of position.

 

[Ktan89]

EK488 ended up doing DBX to DBX.

https://flightaware.com/live/flight/UAE448

Would have sucked in economy but I wouldn't mind if I was traveling premium and was otw back to work.. haha

 

[justinbrett]

AKL closed until at least noon today.

Auckland Airport

Auckland Airport is a major airline hub in New Zealand and there are many domestic and international destinations for visitors to continue on to.

www.aucklandairport.co.nz

Intl diversions to wlg, chc, syd, bne, rar, nan, lax, dxb, may be others.
Dom diversions to wlg, chc, dud, hlz, trg, npl, may be others.

Even if akl reopens this afternoon this will take several days to get back to normal flight schedules with so many a/c and crew out of position.

JFK diverted to HNL

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

AKL airport reopening for domestic flights this afternoon but closed for intl flights until tomorrow morning.

 

[antycbr]

Unusual visitor to WLG - LA801 running SCL-WLG-SYD. Apparently CHC was full from other diversions.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

AKL airport reopening for domestic flights this afternoon but closed for intl flights until tomorrow morning.

Intl flights can depart from 5pm this afternoon, but arrivals only after 4am tomorrow. Thus today's intl departures will only be for a/c already at akl or are able to reposition without pax today.

 

[cambriamarsh]

Unusual visitor to WLG - LA801 running SCL-WLG-SYD. Apparently CHC was full from other diversions.

I'd have thought WLG was a bit short for one of those

 

[mrsterryn]

I'd have thought WLG was a bit short for one of those

I did have a giggle and google on that one as well

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

I'd have thought WLG was a bit short for one of those

Should be no problem now. Pre-covid, SIA used to fly it's A350 in from Canberra.

Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 flies into the capital

Wellington Airport has welcomed one of the world’s most advanced aircraft to the Capital today with Singapore Airline’s A350-900 making its inaugural fligh

www.wellingtonairport.co.nz

 

[cambriamarsh]

Should be no problem now. Pre-covid, SIA used to fly it's A350 in from Canberra.

Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 flies into the capital

Wellington Airport has welcomed one of the world’s most advanced aircraft to the Capital today with Singapore Airline’s A350-900 making its inaugural fligh

www.wellingtonairport.co.nz

Thanks didn't know that. But on reflection they also flew a 777 at one stage too didn't they?

 

[Mwenenzi]

Should be no problem now. Pre-covid, SIA used to fly it's A350 in from Canberra.

Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 flies into the capital

Wellington Airport has welcomed one of the world’s most advanced aircraft to the Capital today with Singapore Airline’s A350-900 making its inaugural fligh

www.wellingtonairport.co.nz

Many moons ago QF used to fly a B747SP into WLG from SYD

Will be some days before operation get back to normal. With flights having high loads some pax may be waiting a few days.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Auckland Airport cancels all international flights due to 'extraordinary weather'

Air NZ is advising those with non-urgent travel between now and Monday to re-book flights after flooding caused “significant flight disruptions”, while all international flights in and out of Auckland have been cancelled until Sunday.

www.stuff.co.nz

Intl departures now closed to 5am tomorrow and intl arrivals until 7am tomorrow.

 

[justinbrett]

Should be no problem now. Pre-covid, SIA used to fly it's A350 in from Canberra.

Singapore Airlines’ A350-900 flies into the capital

Wellington Airport has welcomed one of the world’s most advanced aircraft to the Capital today with Singapore Airline’s A350-900 making its inaugural fligh

www.wellingtonairport.co.nz

"no problem" = heavily restricted. It's a very short runway, 5995FT which is very short for a commercial airport.

Sure, to Australia is doable. But the aircraft are severally load restricted and wouldn't make it much further than East coast Oz even with a significantly reduced payload. And it's generally easier to get in than out.

LATAM won't be returning to SCL via WLG, I can assure you that.

 

[Lynda2475]

Whilst some international flights are expected to depart from tomorrow morning, AirNZ arent expected before 5pm Sunday. And all depends on how much more rain falls tonight.

In lift this morning i was talking to a couple who were headed to Auckland for the now cancelled Elton John concert but diverted to Wellington. At least AirNZ put them up at Sofitel according to news lots of American (not sure which airline) were left to sleep upstairs in the AKL terminal, with toilets that had run out of paper.