Travellers frustrated by the Chilean volcanic ash cloud have been given some good news, with Jetstar resuming all flights in and out of New Zealand this afternoon.
The airline had cancelled all flights in and out of Queenstown and Christchurch yesterday and those venues and Wellington until noon today after a wind change pushed ash from Chile's Mt Puyehue Cordon Caulle volcano back over the country this week.
Jetstar chief executive David Hall said today the ash had resulted in the cancellation of more than 500 Jetstar New Zealand flights in the past three weeks.
"We thank our customers for their patience, support and understanding during this unprecedented natural event.
"Now that full services are resuming, we are firmly focused on getting disrupted passengers safely to their destinations."
Jetstar would, however, maintain a "watchful eye" on the movement of the ash cloud, Mr Hall said.
Jetstar parent Qantas has cancelled flights to and from Queenstown until further notice and Wellington and Christchurch flights until at least midday today.
Air New Zealand is continuing to fly as scheduled.
Mr Hall again dismissed suggestions it cancelled flights for financial reasons as "absurd".
Forsyth Barr aviation analyst Rob Mercer had said Australian airlines chose not to fly in and out of New Zealand during the past two weeks for financial reasons, not because of the safety risks posed by ash clouds.
Jetstar Group chief executive Bruce Buchanan rejected that, saying the airline was focused on safety alone.
