Air New Zealand Hit by Major Operational Meltdown: 15 Flights Cancelled and 128 Delayed Across Three Continents

Air New Zealand experienced a significant global operational meltdown on November 14, 2025, resulting in widespread cancellations and delays across its domestic and international network. The airline’s systems were severely compromised, impacting critical aviation corridors linking New Zealand, Australia, and the United States. According to data confirmed from FlightAware, 15 flights were fully cancelled while an additional 128 services faced major delays, triggering serious disruptions for passengers across three continents.

Major hubs such as Los Angeles, Melbourne, Auckland, and Wellington were immediately affected, with scheduling backlogs putting pressure on airport operations. As the instability rippled across the Pacific Rim, thousands of travellers were forced to adjust their plans, highlighting the scale and severity of the airline’s operational challenges.

Breakdown of the Affected Flights

The disruption affected a mixture of regional turboprop routes and long-haul international operations, indicating a system-wide failure. Domestic feeder flights into Auckland and Wellington were hit the hardest, while major US and Australian connections also suffered significant delays.

List of Cancelled or Disrupted Flights

The data confirms that Air New Zealand’s network disruption hit both high-value long-haul flights and essential domestic routes. The airline’s Auckland hub—central to domestic and international connectivity—experienced severe operational strain.

Key International Services Impacted

Several major long-haul and trans-Tasman routes were directly affected:

• ANZ6: Auckland – Los Angeles

• ANZ216: Melbourne – Christchurch

• ANZ5: Los Angeles – Auckland

These routes are critical for business travellers, tourism flows, and cargo connections between New Zealand, Australia, and the United States.

Delays: 128 Flights Affected

The scale of delays was substantial, affecting:

• 23% of Air New Zealand’s total daily operations

• Passengers across regional airports and international gateways

• Key domestic hubs feeding long-range routes

This level of disruption severely impacted schedule reliability and onward connections.

Affected Airports Across Three Countries

The meltdown extended across major and regional airports:

The inclusion of Los Angeles and Melbourne highlights the global scale of the disruption.

Probable Impact on Local Tourism

The disruptions struck during a period of strong travel demand, causing measurable losses across the tourism, hospitality, and transport sectors.

Impact on New Zealand:

• Major cities such as Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch suffered immediate drops in arrivals.

• Smaller tourism-dependent regions—Taupo, Napier, Nelson, Gisborne—faced cancellations from domestic travellers relying on feeder flights.

• Hotels, rental car companies, and tour operators reported reduced occupancy and missed bookings.

Impact on International Travel:

• The Los Angeles–Auckland corridor is vital for high-value US visitors.

• The Melbourne–Christchurch route carries both holidaymakers and business travellers.

• Delays resulted in shortened trips, lower spending, and activity cancellations.

The combined aviation and tourism losses are expected to be significant in the short term.

What Affected Passengers Should Do

Passengers impacted by the cancellations and delays are advised to:

1. Check real-time flight status via the Air New Zealand app or website.

2. Rebook or request a refund if their flight was cancelled.

3. Seek care and assistance

   • Meals and refreshments for long delays

   • Accommodation if overnight delays occur

   • Rebooking on the next available service

4. Keep receipts for any necessary expenses.

5. Submit formal claims where applicable, especially for international departures under jurisdictions with strong consumer protections.

Air New Zealand has not yet issued a full public explanation for the operational failure.