Nearly three weeks after a fire at Wellington Airport disrupted operations, the smoke-affected southwest pier is expected to reopen next week, although Air New Zealand has not yet provided a timeframe for the reopening of its domestic Koru lounge.

The fire, which occurred on June 12, prompted the evacuation of the southwest pier and the main terminal, causing delays and cancellations of multiple flights. The southwest pier, primarily used for Air New Zealand’s jet departures, sustained both smoke and water damage. Wellington Airport officials confirmed that the area is currently undergoing remediation efforts to address the damage.

In the interim, all jet flights have been redirected to the north pier to minimize disruption. While the regional Koru lounge has continued to operate, albeit with a limited food service, the domestic Koru lounge remains closed as a result of the incident.

Kate Boyer, Air New Zealand’s Chief Operations Officer for ground and in-flight services, stated that the airline is collaborating closely with Wellington Airport to assess the full scope of the damage and determine when the domestic lounge can resume normal operations. She also noted that the airline is exploring alternative solutions to accommodate passenger demand during this period.

The airport and airline have not provided a definitive reopening date for the domestic Koru lounge, leaving its availability uncertain in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, affected passengers are advised to plan accordingly as recovery efforts continue.