What happens to a NZ-bound 747 flight if Auckland, Wellington, & Christchurch are all closed by fog?

Question

I heard they divert to Invercargill because it's the only other civilian airport that can take them, and it happens several times a year, (maybe it's just if a Chch flight can't go to Welly either) but I live there and can't say I've ever seen a 747. They're rather large and loud too so you'd think I'd notice =/

Anyone know if this is true?

Answer 1

well sometimes they wont depart the originating  airport until\

they know the airport is open (saves fuel that way)

thats what they usually do in the US for those reasons

now in case of  emergency some planes can land automatically

even at  fogged in airports

Answer 2

If the plane was already en-route, either it would be turned back or it would land at an alternate airport. There are several islands in the Pacific that can take a 747.

If the airports were predicted to be fog-bound before the plane left then it may simply stay at the origin airport until it was likely to clear.

Answer 3

I don't think Invercargil can take the 747s as it is only around 2k long, about the same as Wellington Airport. It does, however, take the 737s if Queenstown Airport is closed and the Australian flights need to land.

A fully laden 747 cant take off from Wellington airport. In saying that, after reading wikipedia i read that Qantas did land some at Wellington Airport in the early 80s (I dont suppose they were lighter then?). In 1991 a United Airlines 747 landed there after Christchurch and Auckland were closed. All passengers and freight had to be offloaded before it could take off.  

They can also land at Ohakea and one did recently. The problem, however, is that it is military and there are no customs/immigration facilities which they can use. The last time the plane landed people were herded into a hall and asked to remain in there for a few hours.

Answer 4

Quite a number of planes ended up at Ohakea (the Airforce) Airport, west of Palmerston North a while ago.