Today’s [15th March 2019] Christchurch Cancellations
 

I assume it was based on the fact that turboprop departures don't have any security measures in place. There are no xray scanners of baggage and no metal detectors to pass through. This is reserved for jet departures.

The turboprops will depart tomorrow but with increased security measures.

All turboprop luggage is screened, it's simply passengers that aren't

Nope.. But my understanding is all checked baggage is screened at all domestic airports with jets now.

This is to avoid having to rescreen bags that are then transferred to jet services at another airport.

I think AirNZ could have been a bit quicker offering flexibility re Chch bookings for this weekend - initially it was only offered for Friday flights. It was immediately obvious this was of a unprecedented scale.

so why couldn't they just put turbo prop passengers through the same security as jet passengers ?

Because have to get people from the secure area to the gates/plane keeping them secure. Gate 15 I think can swing secure/not secure but rather of gates for Turbo Props can't do that

why not use a bus from jet gate to turbo prop ?

Its more likely due to the lack of resources todo so e.g. the Jet screening already has limited staffing that barely covers the jet services at peak times.

Apparently all domestic departing passengers (turboprop and jet) were being screened at CHC today.

I thought pretty much 99% of CHC-WLG turboprop flights were from G15 now to allow easier access from the main Koru and make the overall experience a bit more jet like.

I flew WLG-CHC on the last (AFAIK) ATR flight that left on Friday as things were unfolding. That and the previous ATR flight were not from G15 - and were not scheduled to be either (G19 and G10? - both land side of security). Both were delayed and without any announcements. Speaking to AirNZ staff - who all did a professional job - I sense things were very much an unknown at the airport. At one stage all flights to CHC were suspended - but they did not announce. Flexitime ticket could not move to earlier flight as extra seats being used by police. I tracked my incoming flight but did not have any certainty it would do the return leg to CHC until we were on the plane. JQ cancelled their only service to CHC (which is a jet and does have security).

Re luggage/screening - I suspected the issue was that on ATR services hand luggage is not screened, whereas on a jet it is.

Just FYI. Came to CHC at 6:30am for my international flight and as I went up the escalators I was greeted to the most insane domestic security line in New Zealand of my life. It snaked around basically the whole of the upstairs food court. Now I see why they didn't screen turbo planes! They didn't have the resources for it at all!

If you have an early morning flight, come early. VERY early. I know that I would have underestimated if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes.

International terminal is just as chill as ever.

I flew CHC to NSN at 6.45am today. When I got to security at 5.30am, I was 4th inline. So your experience may not be the norm.

Sure, I don't think that everyone expects airport security lines to be the same at every hour of every day.

This morning at 815am they had all 3 lanes open for xray so its was pretty fast, about 10 minutes or less total

Are they still screening the turbo prop flights?
How are they regional area past security?

Flew WGTN-HAM via PNR yesterday (again!), no extra security anywhere.
My niece however came PER=AKL on Mon then AKL-Wgtn Tues & said it was insane in AKL. But she's Australian so perhaps that part of it.
Her and her mother (who came Weds) both on the ex SIA 772 and didn't much enjoy it.

Yes all regional flights are screened.

Only CHC at this stage.

As mentioned below only in Christchurch at the moment. Hopefully this is temporary.

In Chc how are they keeping the regional gates post security?
Dropping them out at gate 15 and making pax walk airside from there?
Buses from secure gate to plane?
Or putting some temporary walls up to make a tunnel from G15 along corridor, down escalators etc? Tunnel the regional arrives under escalator so don't mix with regional departures?

Looked pretty much like this explained as above. One not so good upshot is koru lounge is packed with all regional departures

How are disabled passengers being accommodated for the regional flights? I don't believe that there is an elevator from the secure area into the regional area (for obvious reasons), so the only way would be via. the escalators or stairs.

There's a lift inside gate 15 which goes down, wheelchair customers are then taken airside along to the other regional gates.

Three lanes running at 4:00pm Friday at CHC security.
5 minutes from entry of the line to being in the packed lounge.

AVSEC are recruiting like crazy atm.....

1pm today - line at airport is snaked again. Came with lots of time which I don't regret at all!

Any updated word on when this is meant to end? It has been 10 days since the OP. I thought this was only meant to be the case for 48 hours.

AT LEAST 48 hours was the initial reporting.

Presumably will remain for as long as the terrorism threat level remains at high.

It just seems completely pointless to only be doing it at one airport though, if security is the actual reason. The only reason I can see why it would be still going is to make people feel "safe" travelling on regional flights.

But this has realistically nothing to do with it or they would be doing it at every airport. Even the original reporting said that there was no specific threat to aviation and that the move was to make passengers feel "more comfortable".

It is pointless if you think about it, but I don't really mind. I think it will be giving people a lot of peace of mind at this very hard time for our country.