More passengers are being stranded at Auckland Airport this morning where thick fog has already forced the cancellation of 40 flights.

Forecasters are expecting the fog to be mostly cleared by midday.

By 8.40am there had already been 21 arriving and 19 departing flights cancelled.
Many others are “delayed indefinitely”.

Air New Zealand spokeswoman Tracy Sneaton said it was not yet known how many passengers had been affected.

Ms Sneaton said all of Air New Zealand’s domestic jets were operating to schedule but regional services had been put on hold.

WeatherWatch.co.nz says the fog is already lifting across some parts of Auckland with most of it clearing by early afternoon.

The only international service to be affected was an Air New Zealand flight from Rarotonga, which was diverted to Wellington earlier this morning when fog was thicker at the airport.

Ms Sneaton said the aircraft had refuelled and would be heading back to Auckland Airport this morning.

Passengers are being told to check arrivals and departures information on the airport website.

“Very hard to predict fog, as soon as the low visibility has lifted we will be advised,” airport spokesman Richard Llewellyn said.

– Homepage image / Auckland’s domestic terminal, Sarah Ivey

– APNZ and WeatherWatch.co.nz