UPDATED 6:54pm – The airline that forced a plane load of passengers to stay onboard for five hours on the tarmac at Christchurch Airport says it did not have the option to let them into the terminal.

The China Southern Airlines flight bound for Auckland was diverted to Christchurch this morning because thick fog blanketed the city.

Flight CZ335 from Guangzhou was scheduled to arrive in Auckland at 6am, but finally landed there more than six hours later at 12.46pm, an Auckland Airport spokesman confirmed.

China Southern Airlines general manager in Auckland Mike Ma said there was no alternative but to keep the passengers on board at Christchurch.

The plane needed to be ready to fly at a moments notice if the fog lifted and there would have been a longer delay if the passengers had disembarked, he said.

“No one can be sure when the weather will change to good conditions.”

There was also no agreement between the airline and Christchurch terminal to have workers bring the passengers into the terminal, Mr Ma said.

Passengers were given water after about 90 minutes on the terminal, but the airline was unable to provide food because the terminal did not have the ability to provide enough meals within a short period, he said.

When the flight landed at Auckland one or two passengers complained, but they were “satisfied” with the explanation about the delay and extended stay on board the plane.

Mr Ma apologised to those affected.

“I do apologise for the inconvenience,” he said.

“But we have no ability to control the weather. We tried our best to do the best thing and look after the passengers well.”

A Christchurch Airport spokeswoman said when an international flight was diverted, a number of different companies and agencies were involved in decisions around the aircraft and its passengers.

“In today’s case, the airport company was not involved in any decisions about the plane’s passengers.”

Meanwhile, more than 60 domestic flights were cancelled at Auckland because of this morning’s fog and 11 were delayed.

Fog had lifted by 11.25am, the Auckland Airport spokesman said.

Auckland’s fog also caused a private aircraft from Melbourne to divert to Wellington.

Jetstar flight JQ216 from Singapore was also delayed by 25 minutes due to the fog, Auckland Airport said.

 

– Photo / File, Southern China Airlines / Natalie Slade

– APNZ