Christchurch Airport evacuation: Domestic terminal reopened after 'suspicious item' found

Hundreds of passengers at Christchurch Airport were impacted after it was evacuated following the discovery of a "suspicious item" in a bag at the screening checkpoint.

A police spokesperson said they were made aware at 8am and the domestic terminal was evacuated as a precaution.

Police said earlier they were speaking with two people in relation to the incident.

The public was let back into the airport at about 10.30am after a New Zealand Defence Force explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) unit attended.

Police said at 1.50pm the incident had been resolved and "no issue was found."

"Police would like to thank the public for their co-operation while enquiries were being made."

Hundreds of people were standing outside waiting to know what was going on.

One passenger from Wanaka said he was due to fly to Italy when the evacuation order was made.

He spent the morning eyeing the clock nervously as he stood in the rental car pick-up area, his long-awaited trip to reunite with his partner in Italy facing yet another obstacle.

The man was in the queue at security when staff initiated the evacuation process.

"They found the package, checked it through the x-ray machine and decided it was suspicious," he said.

The man said he had been planning his trip for four months, but securing an MIQ spot on return and then the Delta variant outbreak combined to delay the couple's first reunion in two years.

"I've been planning it for ages but because of the level changes and things like that I've already had to delay it for nine days.

"Her mother died two months ago. I was meant to go on the first (of September) for her internment. I've obviously missed that."

His flight to Auckland was scheduled to depart at 9.10am, the Emirates service to Rome via Kuala Lumpur and Dubai takes off at 5.10pm - a window that eased his anxiety.

"I've still got plenty of time to get there," said the man, who is set to return to New Zealand on October 20.

Another traveller said he was at the airport to catch a flight back to Auckland.

"We were upstairs in the Koru Lounge and there was an announcement to say evacuate the building immediately. The sirens went off," he said.

"We were waiting for a flight. It was meant to go at 9.10am but I doubt it. It could be a couple of hours."

Lance, who was heading back to Auckland, was one affected traveller who has been evacuated.

"We were upstairs in the Koru Lounge and there was an announcement to say evacuate the building immediately. the sirens went off."

A Christchurch Airport spokesperson said the incident which caused the evacuation is over.

"Level 1 of the terminal was evacuated soon after a suspicious item was found at the screening point."

Police are in charge of the inquiry and say no threats have been made, they said.

"Several flights have been affected and several hundred passengers impacted."

The terminal has re-opened and people are re-entering.

-Additional reporting NZ Herald