Delays at Auckland Airport as security screening halted

MARTIN DE RUYTER/STUFF

Passengers at Auckland Airport are facing delays at security screeening.

Passengers at Auckland Airport's domestic terminal faced a lengthy wait after an unexplained delay with security screening. 

A passenger at the airport told Stuff on Friday night the security check queue was backed right up to the luggage carousels. 

They were assured via a PA announcement that screening would resume shortly and that no flights would leave without them, she said. 

An airport spokeswoman at 8.20pm said the issue had been resolved, but that no further information was available.

This is the second time there have been passenger delays at the airport in as many weeks. 

A security breach on May 20 left hundreds of frustrated passengers lining up  and also affected some flights at Wellington Airport.

The breach was caused by a passenger re-entering a secure area through an unauthorised door.

Friday's delay comes after a week of controversy for the airport, criticised by the Board of Airline Representatives New Zealand (BARNZ) for its quality of service. 

The board, which represents 30 airlines and aviation related companies in New Zealand, said it was frustrated with various services at Auckland Airport and called for further investment. 

Auckland Airport is currently in the middle of a four-year, $2 billion infrastructure upgrade. 

The works were partly to blame for general delays in and around the airport, Auckland Airport chief executive Adrian Littlewood said.

By 2022 upgrades to the departure lounge, three more contact gates for international aircrafts, a new domestic jet terminal and upgrades to the check-in area were planned to be delivered