Flights over New Zealand are continuing to be disrupted and could be for the next few days as ash from the Chilean volcanic eruption drifts over the country.
The Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano in Chile began erupting on June 4, with the ash plume drifting thousands of kilometres across the South Atlantic, South Africa, Indian Ocean, Tasmania and now across New Zealand.
Air New Zealand are continuing to fly but at lower altitudes while Jetstar and Qantas have cancelled a number of their trans-Tasman and domestic flights as a safety measure, with all checkout counters at Auckland International Airport closed this morning.
Air NZ spokeswoman Tracy Mills said today the national carrier would continually reassess the situation.
She said the company was adjusting flight routes and altitudes to ensure aircraft remained clear of any ash.
A Qantas spokeswoman said all trans-Tasman flights were be grounded until at least midday today when the situation would be reassessed.
Jetstar have cancelled 24 domestic and international flights today, including one flight from Auckland to Singapore and one flight from Singapore to Auckland.
Civil Aviation meteorologist Peter Lechner told NZPA the cloud could be over most of the North Island by tomorrow morning, which would affect airline operations.
To people on the ground the ash particles, which were finer than house dust, would appear as high, thin cloud.
"You can imagine how much volume of air is being sucked through a jet engine, you can accrue a lot of ash, and the turbine blades are very hot so it just sticks to the blades, melts and builds up and eventually stalls the engine."
The ash was at an altitude of between 20,000 and 35,000 feet.
Jets normally cruised between 26,000 and 32,000ft, while turboprops operated at between 18,000 and 20,000ft, Mr Lechner said.
Aircraft could operate under that band safely, although jets would use more fuel at lower altitudes, making it more expensive for the airlines.
