with jetstar no longer doing chc-zqn, chc is about as far from zqn as you can get in their network. back to akl may have been better options for the passengers. atleast the bus ride from dud would've been shorter.
i think the jq279 aircraft goes back to akl anyway, so considering the flying for the rest of the day, akl may have been a better option. and most of the passengers would be no worse off back where they started.
Waren 9: A friendly tip. Don't comment on what you know nothing about. Stick to your control steps that don't in any way imitate a standard jet descent profile.
JQ279 goes across the Tasman after ZQN.
AKL is 5th on the list of diversion airports.
Perhaps DUD was not appropriate. Any comments on all the other diversion airports available?
Once the pax were handed to the recovery team, it's got nothing to do with the pilots.
Question: why did a bus driver with 50 people on board not consult the NZTA website to see that the Lindis Pass was snowed in and required chains, then subsequently closed completely. Obviously comm break down between JQ and bus company, but a bus drivers job surely has some responsibility....