Christchurch International Airport was closed by bad weather for the first time in nearly 20 years yesterday.

Although airlines oftentimes cancel flights due to inclement weather, including fog, the airport rarely shuts down.

Yesterday the airport closed for about four hours from 5am after 25 millimeters of snow blanketed runways, aprons and taxiways.


Airport chief executive Jim Boult said the temporary closing was one of the few in living memory", with the exception of the September and February earthquakes.

The previous weather-related closure had been throughout the snow dump in 1992.

The decision was driven by concerns for the safety of staff and the public in trying to access the airport when weather conditions had made roads in and around Christchurch so treacherous, he said.


A Singapore Airlines flight was the first in after the reopening about 9am, but other flights yesterday were at airlines' discretion.

Airport chief fire officer Peter Moore said his squad had worked for 24 hours in an attempt to keep the runway clear.

"One of our duty guys drove a loader all night, so the guys who had been there all day had a break overnight," he said.

Moore also worked during the 1992 snowstorm, which he said had been easier to clear. This week's snow had at times been demoralising, he said.

"We've had painters on squeegees, mechanics and firemen on loaders, and all sorts of people doing whatever they can. There have been no demarcation lines at all; every airport staff member had pitched in to hold the airport operating “Moore said.

Boult said four-wheel-drive vehicles had been used to introduce essential staff.

He said staff had "pulled out all the stops" to assist travelers.