Published on
August 16, 2025
Emirates, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia and more faced significant disruptions in New Zealand as dozens of flights were delayed and canceled due to a forty-minute air traffic control failure. The outage, which affected the oceanic air traffic system managing flights across the Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea, led to widespread delays, flight diversions, and hold times at key airports. The failure occurred at 4:30 pm and was resolved by 5:30 pm, but not before causing considerable inconvenience to travelers.
In a significant air traffic control disruption in New Zealand affected dozens of flights, causing delays and cancellations across multiple airports. Emirates, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and several other airlines were hit by the unexpected outage, which impacted flights traveling to and from New Zealand’s oceanic airspace.
The disruption occurred at 4:30 pm when the main oceanic air traffic control system failed, forcing the air traffic services to switch to a backup system. The system failure prevented flight plans for the Tasman sector from being processed, resulting in a series of flight delays and diversions.
The Air Traffic Control Failure: Affected Airlines and Airports
According to Airways New Zealand Chief Executive James Young, the outage was caused by a malfunction in the primary system that manages New Zealand’s air traffic over the vast oceanic expanse of the Tasman Sea and Pacific Ocean. The system is essential for managing flights traveling across these areas, which form a significant part of New Zealand’s airspace.
The failure prompted Airways New Zealand to switch operations to a backup system, though this could not fully compensate for the outage, leading to delays and diversions. Between 4:30 pm and 5:05 pm, when the main system was restored, numerous flights were affected across multiple airports.
The delay and diversion caused significant inconvenience for passengers traveling to and from key New Zealand airports, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Queenstown, and Nelson.
Impact on Airlines and Flights:
The outage primarily affected the following airlines:
EmiratesAir New ZealandQantasJetstarVirgin Australia
These airlines experienced delays and cancellations across their flights, especially those operating from New Zealand to Australia, the United States, and other international destinations. The issue persisted for approximately 40 minutes, during which time flights were held both in the air and on the ground.
Several flights were unable to proceed to their destinations immediately, while others had to be diverted back to New Zealand after holding for around 40 minutes.
Flight Diversions and Hold Times
As a result of the disruption, five flights were held in the air during the outage. Three of these flights were diverted back to New Zealand after holding for approximately 40 minutes. The remaining two flights continued their journey after a prolonged waiting period, though they too were delayed.
Airlines were forced to ground several flights in both Australia and New Zealand, which added to the overall delay during this period.
Delays Across New Zealand Airports
Here is a detailed breakdown of the delays and cancellations at key New Zealand airports affected by the outage:
1. QueenstownTotal Delays: 7 flightsTotal Cancellations: 0 flightsAirlines Affected:Air New Zealand: 3 delays (9%)Qantas: 2 delays (25%)Virgin Australia: 2 delays (20%)
While Queenstown Airport experienced relatively fewer delays compared to larger airports, the small number of disruptions still had a ripple effect on the region’s travelers.
2. AucklandTotal Delays: 41 flightsTotal Cancellations: 0 flightsAirlines Affected:Air New Zealand: 33 delays (12%)Jetstar: 1 delay (2%)Qantas: 3 delays (13%)Emirates: 1 delay (50%)
Auckland Airport, the busiest in New Zealand, saw the highest number of delays, with Air New Zealand being the most affected airline. The large number of delays here highlights the scale of the disruption at major international hubs.
3. Christchurch InternationalTotal Delays: 21 flightsTotal Cancellations: 0 flightsAirlines Affected:Air New Zealand: 18 delays (14%)Jetstar: 2 delays (10%)Qantas: 1 delay (9%)
Christchurch International, another major airport in New Zealand, was impacted by several flight delays, though it had no cancellations.
4. NelsonTotal Delays: 3 flightsTotal Cancellations: 0 flightsAirlines Affected:Air New Zealand: 3 delays (6%)
Nelson Airport, a smaller regional airport, had a more limited impact with a relatively smaller number of delays.
5. Wellington InternationalTotal Delays: 15 flightsTotal Cancellations: 1 flightAirlines Affected:Air New Zealand: 14 delays (11%)Sounds Air: 1 delay (2%)
Wellington experienced some disruption, including one flight cancellation, which further added to the travel chaos caused by the air traffic control outage.
Special Information: A Closer Look at the Affected Airlines and Passenger Impact
Here is a detailed look at the specific airline delays and cancellations during this disruption:
Emirates: 1 flight delayed at Auckland (50%) and 1 at Wellington (2%). Emirates was one of the more affected international carriers, especially on flights departing from New Zealand.Air New Zealand: The national carrier experienced the highest number of delays at almost all major airports, including Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, and Queenstown. While none of Air New Zealand’s flights were canceled, delays impacted passenger schedules significantly.Qantas: Several Qantas flights were delayed at Auckland (13%) and Queenstown (25%). While no cancellations were recorded, the delays added substantial inconvenience to travelers.Jetstar: A number of Jetstar flights were delayed at Auckland (2%) and Christchurch (10%). Like Qantas, Jetstar’s flights were not canceled but did experience significant delays during the outage.Virgin Australia: Virgin Australia saw delays across multiple airports, including Queenstown (20%) and Christchurch (9%). Their flights were grounded during the air traffic control system outage, causing delays.Key Stats:Total Delays at Major Airports:Auckland: 41 delaysQueenstown: 7 delaysChristchurch: 21 delaysWellington: 15 delaysNelson: 3 delaysAirlines Impacted:Air New Zealand: Affected the most, especially at Auckland, Christchurch, and Wellington airportsEmirates: Significant delays in Auckland and WellingtonQantas: Flights delayed at Auckland and QueenstownJetstar: Delays at Auckland and ChristchurchVirgin Australia: Flights delayed at Queenstown and ChristchurchRestoration of Services: The Return to Normal Operations
After the outage was resolved at 5:05 pm, the air traffic control system was fully restored, and normal operations resumed by 5:30 pm. The brief period of disruption, although inconvenient for travelers, was mitigated by the swift recovery of the system.
Passengers were advised to check their flight statuses directly with airlines for the most up-to-date information on their travel. Many travelers faced extended wait times and delays, but thankfully no cancellations occurred except for one flight in Wellington.
Impact on Travel and Tourism:
This disruption highlights the critical importance of reliable air traffic control systems in maintaining the flow of both domestic and international travel. For New Zealand’s tourism industry, disruptions such as these can have a ripple effect, affecting travelers heading to and from popular destinations across the country.
With the swift resolution of the issue and the relatively minor cancellations, New Zealand’s tourism industry can breathe a sigh of relief. However, the economic impact of air traffic control disruptions is an important factor that needs to be considered, especially for a country like New Zealand, where tourism is a key driver of the economy.
Emirates, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Australia, and more faced significant disruptions in New Zealand due to a forty-minute air traffic control failure. The outage caused dozens of flight delays and cancellations, with several flights held in the air and diverted during the disruption.
The air traffic control system failure in New Zealand caused significant disruptions across multiple airports, affecting dozens of flights, including those operated by Emirates, Air New Zealand, Qantas, Jetstar, and Virgin Australia. Though the system was restored promptly, the 40-minute delay caused frustration for travelers, with many held in the air or grounded at airports. The swift recovery by Airways New Zealand helped minimize the impact, but the event underscores the importance of robust systems to ensure the smooth operation of the aviation industry. As New Zealand moves forward, these types of disruptions serve as a reminder of the critical role air traffic control plays in supporting both domestic and international travel.
