Ash cloud cancels more Jetstar, Qantas flights

A Jetstar flight departs Christchurch Airport. Photo / File

The Chilean volcanic ash cloud is set to continue to disrupt travellers plans today with Jetstar and Qantas cancelling more flights to and from Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington.

Jetstar have cancelled all flights in and out of Christchurch, Queenstown and Wellington until midday today after a wind change pushed ash from Chile's Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano back over the country this week.

All other trans-Tasman and international services would operate as normal, the airline said.

Jetstar said it would continue to monitor the ash cloud in conjunction with the Volcanic Ash Advisory Centre and the Bureau of Meteorology.

Meanwhile Qantas has cancelled flights to and from Queenstown until further notice and Wellington and Christchurch flights until at least midday on Friday.

Air New Zealand is continuing to fly as scheduled.

Jetstar earlier dismissed suggestions it cancelled flights for financial reasons as "absurd".

Forsyth Barr aviation analyst Rob Mercer had said Australian airlines chose not to fly in and out of New Zealand during the past two weeks for financial reasons, not because of the safety risks posed by ash clouds.

Jetstar Group chief executive Bruce Buchanan rejected that, saying the airline was focused on safety alone.

- NZPA