What fuel crisis?

The scene as workers dig in to repair a pipeline where a digger damaged it on Thursday. Refining New Zealand has said it will take up to two weeks to repair the damage. Picture supplied

THE fuel emergency disrupting airline travel in and out of Auckland has so far not appeared to have had much impact on domestic or international travel plans of Gisborne people, other than longer long-haul flights.

Travel agents The Herald has spoken to believe it should hopefully stay that way until the situation is resolved.

Those on long-haul flights face longer trips and delays as schedules are changed to include a fuel stop.

The Air New Zealand website indicates apart from a half-hour delay to a flight from Auckland to Gisborne this afternoon, flights into and out of Gisborne have been running to schedule so far.

The airline says the temporary shut-down of Refining New Zealand’s pipeline into Auckland impacts on all airlines into and out of Auckland, and limits the volume of jet fuel available.

“We have cancelled some domestic and transtasman services to consolidate passenger loads.

“We are ensuring domestic jet services uplift maximum fuel limits when operating out of Wellington or Christchurch to reduce fuel requirements ex-Auckland, and some long-haul services are refuelling at selected Pacific or Australian airports,” Air NZ said.

Domestic flightsDomestic flights affected today and tomorrow involve Auckland, Wellington, Queenstown and Christchurch.

One Gisborne person heading for London reports a 17-hour long-haul leg to Dubai will be 20 hours to include a Melbourne fuel stop. The airline has revised the onward flight from Dubai too, which means the whole trip will take an extra half-day.

Graham Elliott of Elliott Travel said there had been very little disruption so far for his customers.

“The long-haul airlines are using Australia and the Pacific islands as fuel stops, which adds an extra two hours thereabouts to journeys.

“We have not heard of any Gisborne people missing out on holiday connections so far because of the situation.

“We had a group go to Japan yesterday and another group to Samoa, and they all got through OK. I believe people intending to travel from here should not be overly concerned.”

Check in before leavingMr Elliott said it would pay people to check with their travel agents no later than 24 hours before their planned departure.

“But at this stage things are running fairly smoothly. All travel agents are getting updates from the airlines, which helps keep our customers informed.”

A spokeswoman for another Gisborne travel agency said at this stage the situation was not expected to cause much impact on provincial flights.

“So far there has not been much at all and neither is it causing much international disruption.

“The airlines have found ways around it so far,” she said.

“At this stage we are fairly relaxed about the situation.”