Qantas diversions from Queenstown

A number of QF flights from ZQN, principally to MEL and BNE, have been diverting to CHC. Seems to have started a week or so ago. Does anyone know why?

Can't get out of Queenstown with enough fuel onboard maybe?

Queenstown does have a short runway. Are they are deliberately overloading with baggage and freight so they have to top up fuel in CHC?

There is a fuel shortage at Queenstown Airport

That's interesting. In the last week not a single NZ flight from ZQN to BNE/SYD/MEL has diverted to CHC. However, 3 QF to BNE (QF186) and 1 QF to MEL (QF178) have diverted. Jetstar cancelled 2 flights to MEL. Still plenty of fuel for the locals it seems.

It’s possible that the NZ flights start the flying pattern in Auckland which means they can carry additional fuel to Queenstown for the Tasman sector

It seems only a320neo aircraft are used by NZ on Tasman flights from ZQN. The 5 frames owned by NZ very rarely operate domestic services involving Queenstown. However, perhaps they require less fuel than the QF 738's? I guess it would have to be significantly less to make a difference in a fuel shortage though.

On a NZ avaiation Facebook book page it was stated that weather conditions in Queenstown were such that the 737-800s couldn't meet the safety requirements to be able totake off and clear mountains on a single engine. Fuel shortage was temporary for just a day or so

One incident on NZ 13-July MEL-ZQN was that the GPS was not operational and had to divert to CHC for repairs as it couldn’t fly the RNP approach. What was interesting is that the PIC said that they couldn’t land at ZQN if revised ETA was after dark.