Air New Zealand are experiencing high levels of demand for services ex-Queenstown as Kiwis use the 48 grace period to get home.

Air NZ are using high capacity aircraft to A321s where possible and are encouraging customers who aren’t intending to travel to cancel their tickets to free up seats for others.

Both Queenstown and Wānaka airports will be facilitating scheduled services operated by Air New Zealand and Jetstar in Queenstown and Sounds Air in Wānaka, to ensure people can return home.

The airport also notes changes to expect when travelling through Queenstown Airport at Alert Level Four: 

• Passengers must present proof of travel to enter the terminal. The terminal is closed to all non-essential personnel and members of the public not travelling
• Aviation Security Services will be stationed at the terminal entrances managing access to the terminal and ensuring everyone signs in using the COVID Tracer App or manually before entering
• Face-coverings are required in the airport terminal and are mandatory on all flights within New Zealand
• Retail outlets in the terminal are closed
• Passengers who need to return rental cars can still do so and use the rental company drop box to return car keys

There are 32 flights today (16 arrivals & 16 departures)

and 34 scheduled flights tomorrow (17 arrivals and 17 departures).

The airport is asking that everyone respect their staff and the wider airport community as they do their best to ensure everyone can return home safely.