Travel disruptions across Tasman amid Asia airport chaos

Air travel across New Zealand, Australia, and the wider Pacific is facing ongoing disruption, with widespread delays and limited cancellations.

This comes as airlines manage peak holiday demand, bad weather, and tight aircraft schedules.

While major airports across Asia have seen heavy disruption in recent weeks, with thousands of passengers stranded in the Philippines, Singapore, Japan, and China, Pacific aviation issues on Wednesday were mainly being driven by local conditions than a direct breakdown linked to the Asian airport congestion.

Australia remains the most affected part of the region, with more than 1000 flight delays and around 30 cancellations reported across major airports in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide.

The delays are based on flight-tracking data cited by international travel media.

Brisbane Airport has seen particular pressure due to severe thunderstorms and heavy rain across Queensland this week, which slowed aircraft movements and caused knock-on delays nationwide.

Auckland Airport prepares for a record summer rush as Air New Zealand, Jetstar and other carriers operate packed schedules. Photo/travelandtourworld

Airlines, including Qantas, Jetstar and Virgin Australia, have all been impacted.

Qantas officials told the ABC that during busy holiday periods, weather, and aircraft availability could quickly lead to delays across the network, especially when schedules are already full.

Across the Pacific, travellers are feeling the effects of busy holiday skies, with delays stretching from Australia into New Zealand.

New Zealand: Flights running but delays possible

Airports in Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch were operating on Christmas Eve, but airlines are managing high passenger numbers and limited spare aircraft, particularly on domestic and trans-Tasman routes.

Air New Zealand has announced in statements that the airline is operating a very full schedule and that even small disruptions can affect on-time performance.

An Air New Zealand spokesperson earlier this week stated that the airline is focused on “keeping people moving safely during one of the busiest travel periods of the year”, while asking customers to check their flight status before leaving for the airport.

New Zealand media have also reported that strong summer demand and ongoing maintenance needs mean there is little room to recover quickly when delays occur.

There were no reports of widespread cancellations across New Zealand on Wednesday, but travellers are still being warned to expect delays.

Holiday travellers make their way through the arrivals hall at Nadi International Airport, a central hub for Pacific travel. Photo/fijipocketguide.com

Pacific Islands: Services largely stable

Across the Pacific Islands, including Fiji, Sāmoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu, flights are largely operating as planned, with no confirmed reports on Christmas Eve of major airport shutdowns or mass cancellations.

Fiji Airways services remain mostly on schedule, based on current flight data and the absence of disruption notices from Nadi International Airport.

Pacific aviation observers note that island routes often remain stable unless affected by local weather or aircraft rotations from Australia or New Zealand.

Is Asia’s disruption affecting the Pacific?

So far, there are no confirmed reports that the large-scale flight delays reported across Asia are directly causing disruption in Australia or New Zealand.

But aviation analysts say indirect flow-on effects are possible, particularly when aircraft arriving late from Asian hubs such as Singapore or Tokyo are scheduled to operate onward flights in the Pacific region.

Flight-tracking company FlightAware has previously stated that airline networks are closely linked, which means that delays in one region can sometimes affect others, even when local airports remain open.

Travellers queue and move through Auckland Airport ahead of Christmas Day, as airports across the Pacific region face heavy holiday travel demand. Photo/RNZ

Advice for Pacific travellers

Travellers flying on Christmas Day are advised to:

• Check flight updates directly with their airline

• Allow extra time at airports

• Expect delays rather than full cancellations

• Watch weather updates, especially in Australia

Overall, air travel across the Pacific is running but under pressure.

Australia is seeing the most disruption due to weather and holiday traffic, New Zealand is managing high demand with limited spare capacity, and Pacific island flights remain mostly stable.

Travellers are urged to stay informed as conditions continue to change.