Airports in chaos following quake

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Tue, 22 Feb 2011 11:00p.m.

It could be a long wait for some passengers

It could be a long wait for some passengers

By Brook Sabin

Tonight, scores of people are held up at airports around the country trying to get into Christchurch - which is indefinitely shut.

Everybody is anxious to get home and find out how their loved ones have feared.

Angela Marshall and her family were just about to land in Christchurch when the quake struck.

"We were 15 minutes out of Christchurch and they sent us back again - so they sent us back midflight, so we're just trying to get hold of our friends and family," she says.

And she is far from alone. 

At this stage Christchurch Airport hopes to open for domestic flights tomorrow morning at 8am - although that is subject to change.

Air New Zealand has also announced it will operate a return Auckland-Christchurch service tomorrow using a Boeing 747, with seats available at $50 a fare.

But the only flight out of Christchurch tonight was an air ambulance with a woman and young child who are both in a serious condition.

They're expected to arrive in Auckland sometime overnight.

The Auckland District Health Board has also cancelled all non urgent surgery tomorrow - with many more injured expected.

For now, relatives wait to board flights in the morning, anxious to discover just how much of their livelihoods remain.

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Comments

27 Feb 2011 08:39p.m.

Eva wrote:

My heart goes out to all the people of Christchurch and New Zealand! Yet, to compare this terrible quake to Haiti is really too much. The Haitians lived in terrible poverty before the quake and there were thousands of dead and terrible decease to follow. They are suffering still, a relatively wealthy and well organised country like NZ can't even imagine. In situations like this one shouldn't compare, what is the purpose of that?

24 Feb 2011 12:08a.m.

Alison wrote:

I feel sad to hear suburbs are feeling left out, but I think we have to realise that there is only so many people to work this through so stop complaining and help each other. Leave Air NZ alone, they have done a huge amount to assist and just cannot help in every single situation. Come on work together and think amount the ones that have lost family and loved ones.

23 Feb 2011 04:27a.m.

pete wrote:

Air New Zealand...$50 AKL TO CHC how generous... what about the rest of us trying to get home to Christchurch to their wife and children/families! $1,750.00 is what I have to pay from Perth! Air New Zealand's comment...There's nothing we can do!! Thanks again Air New Zealand you guys really step up to the plate in times of crisis...three cheers!