Snow gave many southern
people an unexpected day off work, but for more than 5000
visitors it has meant the unexpected expense of a prolonged
stay in Queenstown.
By yesterday, 60 flights had been delayed since Sunday
night's snowfall, but Queenstown Airport Corporation chief
executive Steve Sanderson said passengers remained calm
throughout.
"Visitors have been really good - I think they understand it
is a winter playground."
Cancellations of flights from Christchurch International
Airport over the past two days affected more than 1500
people, with those travelling to Queenstown hit hardest.
Yesterday, at least 30 Air New Zealand trips from
Christchurch were cancelled, including four to Queenstown.
The first flight left for the resort about 3pm.
A spokeswoman for Air New Zealand said the majority of
customers on yesterday's cancelled flights had been rebooked
on services later in the day, meaning there would be a strong
demand for flights into Queenstown for the next few days.
Jetstar did not supply information on how many passengers and
flights had not made it to Queenstown.
The extra days in Queenstown for Auckland University of
Technology student Sophie Lowery (23) had been a "blessing in
disguise", but an expensive one, she said.
Miss Lowery's Jetstar flight home to Auckland was cancelled
on Monday morning and she has since been stranded in
Queenstown trying to get back home.
She and passengers from 60 planes had to kill time in the
resort until flights resumed.
She was spending another night in the resort last night, as
her rebooked flight leaves the resort this morning.
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