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The first flight back from London after volcanic ash disrupted flights for almost a week, has landed in Auckland to great applause.
After six days of delays, the plane even touched down 10 minutes before schedule, at 5.15am today.
Airports across Europe had shut down when a volcanic ash cloud
from Iceland's Eyjafjallajokull volcano swept across the continent.
Air New Zealand flight NZ1, which departed London just hours after its international airport Heathrow reopened on Wednesday, was the first to arrive back in New Zealand.
Luke Pearce, visiting his sister in New Zealand on his first trip alone, said passengers cheered as the plane landed at its stopover point, Los Angeles.
And at Auckland's international arrivals lounge, he walked out to a large crowd that included media and his sister, who gave him a big hug.
"Loads of people were getting very stressed out," Mr Pearce said.
His boss had been stranded abroad, and his neighbours were stuck next door instead of going away on a holiday in Spain.
Elaine Prokopiw, who lives in Whangarei, said she had been able to get on the flight only because her travel agent suggested she try turning up at the airport.
She had been delayed for a week, and was rebooked for a flight leaving on April 29, she said.
But when she showed up, Heathrow was virtually empty - most people had been advised to stay away - and she managed to secure the first flight out.
"It was like a coffin; it was awful," Ms Prokopiw said of the airport.
She had spent the week stressed, checking for updates four times a day, she said.
Alex Coaton arrived back home after a trip in Europe. He said he was glad to have been able to avoid further delays.
"I've been away for eight weeks and I was ready to come back. It was really nice."
Another passenger, Robert Donderwinkel, said he had faced flight cancellations all over Europe.
First, he had attempted to fly from Brussels to Porto on Friday to meet his wife and children.
When that flight was cancelled, he was able to rebook to fly there on Tuesday.
Next, he had been due to fly to London on Wednesday to get to New Zealand, but had to rebook that flight as well.
"I'm very fortunate," Mr Donderwinkel said. "It's just crazy. It's amazing how much of an influence it's had."
People around him had been trying to book ferries, trains or any other mode of transportation, willing to pay 2500 euros (NZ$4700) just to get into Britain, he said.
All the passengers who made it on to the first flight back and spoke to nzherald.co.nz praised Air New Zealand for how it handled the disruptions.
The closure of air space in the UK and parts of Europe has been estimated to have affected more than a million people and cost airlines billions of dollars.
