'On hold': Air NZ grounds all regional flights in and out of Auckland

Author: NZ Herald ,
Publish Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2026, 8:20am

Thick fog at Auckland Airport has cancelled or delayed more than 30 domestic and one international flight.

Fog is causing major travel disruption at Auckland Airport this morning, with 39 domestic flights either cancelled or delayed and at least one international flight delayed.

Fog restrictions were introduced at the airport around 4.30am.

In an update at 9.40am, the airport said 25 domestic regional flights have been cancelled and 10 domestic regional flights delayed.

Three domestic flights to Queenstown and one flight from Wellington had now also been delayed due to the fog.

Air NZ told the Herald all regional flying in and out of Auckland has currently been put on hold.

The airline has extended flexibility to customers for all domestic services in and out of the city until 3pm. It’s asked for customers to use the app in the first instance.

One passenger travelling to Sydney on flight NZ103 told the Herald his journey had been delayed by 45 minutes because only one plane was allowed on the tarmac at a time.

“It’s really thick fog. The visibility is maybe 50 metres. It’s eerily quiet on the tarmac and nothing seems to be moving.”

State Highway 20 cameras showing thick fog close to Auckland Airport. Photo / NZTA

Auckland Airport’s website shows delays to flights to and from Whangārei, Bay of Islands, Tauranga, Napier, Palmerston North, Gisborne, Nelson, New Plymouth, Blenheim and Rotorua.

Travellers are being advised to check the airport’s website or app for the latest flight arrival and departure information.

The airport website is aucklandairport.co.nz

The disruption comes after a night of chaos at Wellington Airport after a fire broke out in the domestic terminal.

Hundreds of people were left stranded after they were evacuated as emergency services battled the blaze.

Fire and Emergency New Zealand sent eight fire engines, two ladder trucks, one command unit and one breathing apparatus after reports machinery was on fire at 7.15pm.

Videos shared with the Herald show smoke billowing from the airport terminal and across the runway.

Multiple flights were affected and some travellers reported they were stuck on planes unable to disembark.

“It’s a newsworthy shambles here,” one person said.

Outside the terminal, ground staff announced that passengers would not be able to retrieve luggage.

Passengers were told to come back today to collect luggage that had been checked or left on a plane when the evacuations took place, RNZ reported.

In an update late last night, Wellington Airport said it would be open as usual today, “however there may be some flow-on disruptions to flights so passengers are advised to check directly with their airlines”.

Fire and Emergency will be investigating the cause of the fire.