Flights Cancelled Across New Zealand Airports: Auckland, Queenstown, and Wellington Affected by Disruptions from Air New Zealand, Thai Airways, and Singapore Airlines

Published on September 4, 2025

On 4th September, several flights to and from Auckland Airport experienced cancellations, causing significant disruptions for passengers. Flight NZ176 from Perth, operated by Qantas, as well as Thai Airways‘ TG4853 and Singapore Airlines‘ SQ4218, were all scheduled to arrive at 6:05 AM but were cancelled. These cancellations indicate a possible operational or logistical challenge that may have affected multiple airlines, all with the same scheduled arrival time. Similarly, Queenstown Airport also saw flight cancellations. The Qantas flight QF123 from Sydney was scheduled to arrive at 21:15, while the return flight, QF124, was set to depart at 07:05. Both flights were unfortunately cancelled, adding to the disruptions that passengers faced. At Wellington Airport, Air New Zealand’s flight NZ5192 from Timaru was scheduled to arrive at 12:40, with an estimated arrival time of 13:19. However, this flight too was cancelled, highlighting further operational challenges on this day across New Zealand airports.

Cancellations at Arrivals at Auckland Airport

• Flight NZ176 – Perth (Qantas)
  • Date: 4th September
  • Scheduled Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
  • Status: Cancelled
  • Estimated Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
• Flight TG4853 – Perth (Thai Airways)
  • Date: 4th September
  • Scheduled Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
  • Status: Cancelled
  • Estimated Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
• Flight SQ4218 – Perth (Singapore Airlines)
  • Date: 4th September
  • Scheduled Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
  • Status: Cancelled
  • Estimated Arrival Time: 6:05 AM

Cancellations at Queenstown Airport

Arrivals

• Flight QF123 – Sydney (Qantas)
  • Scheduled Arrival Time: 21:15
  • Status: Cancelled
  • Estimated Arrival Time: 21:15

Departures

• Flight QF124 – Sydney (Qantas)
  • Scheduled Departure Time: 07:05
  • Status: Cancelled
  • Estimated Departure Time: 07:05

Cancellations at Wellington Airport

Arrivals

• Flight NZ5192 – Timaru (Air New Zealand)
  • Scheduled Arrival Time: 12:40
  • Estimated Arrival Time: 13:19
  • Status: Cancelled

Auckland Airport – Cancellations

At Auckland Airport, a total of three flights were cancelled during the morning hours, all of which were scheduled to arrive from Perth. The flights affected included Qantas flight NZ176, Thai Airways flight TG4853, and Singapore Airlines flight SQ4218. All three flights were supposed to arrive at 6:05 AM, but instead, passengers were met with the unfortunate news of cancellations.

1. Flight NZ176 – Qantas (Perth)
   • Scheduled Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
   • Status: Cancelled
   • Estimated Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
   This Qantas flight from Perth was one of the first cancellations of the day at Auckland Airport. The exact reasons for the cancellation have not been disclosed, but passengers were advised to check with airline staff for further details on alternative arrangements.
2. Flight TG4853 – Thai Airways (Perth)
   • Scheduled Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
   • Status: Cancelled
   • Estimated Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
   Thai Airways, operating this flight from Perth, also faced similar disruptions. With the scheduled arrival time being identical to the Qantas flight, it raised concerns about the coordination and operational conditions at the airport. Passengers were impacted similarly as they were left without any updates regarding new flight arrangements for the day.
3. Flight SQ4218 – Singapore Airlines (Perth)
   • Scheduled Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
   • Status: Cancelled
   • Estimated Arrival Time: 6:05 AM
   The third flight to be cancelled was Singapore Airlines flight SQ4218 from Perth. This cancellation, occurring at the same time as the previous two, further compounded the chaos at Auckland Airport. Travelers hoping to catch their connections or make arrangements for the rest of their travel day were left stranded without their scheduled flights.

The concentration of cancellations at the same time for different airlines likely points to an operational issue affecting the airport as a whole, whether it be a weather-related event, a staffing problem, or logistical delays. Such incidents disrupt not only the immediate travel plans of passengers but also cause long-term knock-on effects on subsequent flights.

Queenstown Airport – Further Disruptions

Queenstown Airport, another important hub in New Zealand, was not immune to the day’s cancellations. Two Qantas flights were scheduled to depart and arrive, but both flights were ultimately cancelled. These cancellations affected travelers between Sydney and Queenstown.

1. Flight QF123 – Sydney (Qantas)
   • Scheduled Arrival Time: 21:15
   • Status: Cancelled
   • Estimated Arrival Time: 21:15
   This Qantas flight from Sydney to Queenstown had an arrival scheduled for 21:15, but unfortunately, the flight was cancelled. The cancellation left many passengers stranded, with limited options for rebooking or alternative travel arrangements. This would have created significant inconvenience for those planning to visit Queenstown for leisure or business.
2. Flight QF124 – Sydney (Qantas)
   • Scheduled Departure Time: 07:05
   • Status: Cancelled
   • Estimated Departure Time: 07:05
   The return flight from Queenstown to Sydney, QF124, was also cancelled. This further disrupted travel plans for passengers who were hoping to return to Sydney on the morning of 4th September. With two consecutive cancellations, passengers were left with limited flight options, and many would have likely needed to reschedule their travels.

The cancellation of both inbound and outbound flights from Queenstown highlighted the operational difficulties airlines can face when multiple flights are affected at the same airport within a short span of time.

Wellington Airport – Additional Flight Disruptions

Finally, Wellington Airport also saw a flight cancellation that further contributed to the operational chaos experienced across New Zealand airports on 4th September. The Air New Zealand flight NZ5192, scheduled to arrive from Timaru, was cancelled.

• Flight NZ5192 – Timaru (Air New Zealand)
  • Scheduled Arrival Time: 12:40
  • Estimated Arrival Time: 13:19
  • Status: Cancelled

This cancellation, though not as significant as the ones at Auckland and Queenstown, still affected a portion of the air traffic in Wellington. Air New Zealand, which operates a significant number of domestic flights, faced logistical challenges in managing cancellations and rebooking passengers. Passengers were left with the uncertainty of not knowing how soon they would be able to travel or find alternate routes to their destination.