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WorldPoliticsPacificTe Ao MoriSportBusinessCountryLocal Democracy ReportingComment AnalysisIn DepthWeatherNEW ZEALAND TRAVEL4 Oct 2022More than 100 transit passengers in Auckland forced to wait in airport corridor overnight202 pm on 4 October 2022 Share this Share on TwitterShare on FacebookShare via emailShare on RedditShare on Linked InRayssa AlmeidaRayssa Almeida Reporter@rayssamalmeida rayssa.almeida@rnz.co.nzAuckland Airport international terminalAuckland Airport operations general manager Anna Cassels-Brown says the incident is completely below the level of acceptable customer service and they are fixing the issue. File photo Photo RNZ Samuel RillstoneMore than 100 passengers transiting through Auckland Airport over the weekend were forced to wait in a cold corridor overnight.The NZ Herald reported that the passengers who had flown from Samoa and were on the way to Australia had arrived about 2am on Sunday.Passengers were reportedly told they could not go through the security screening point because it was not staffed until 5am forcing them to sit and wait in a cold hallway until the area opened.Elizabeth Nanai who was among those waiting in the corridor said seeing elderly people lying on the floor was heart-breaking.The 47-year-old arrived with a group after a church conference in Samoa and they were shocked when they were not allowed in the departure lounge Nanai said.Elizabeth Nanai.Elizabeth Nanai. Photo Supplied Elizabeth NanaiWe had quite a few of us the younger ones that walked back towards where the gates where our flight arrived because we knew there was chairs there. The rest of them the elderly just couldnt walk back that far so they just decided to camp on the floor no other option.There were only 12 chairs available in the space they were allowed in she said.Auckland Airport operations general manager Anna Cassels-Brown told Morning Report they found out later the flight was late to depart Apia and therefore late to arrive to Auckland.I wouldnt want to say that this problem was foreseen I dont operate the airline obviously Cassels-Brown said.What I do know is that at the time it arrived unfortunately the aviation security transit screening point - which many listeners wont even know it exists unless theyve transited through Auckland its deep within the international terminal - was not staffed by AvSec at the time she said.Its open under a contract between AvSec and the airlines between the hours of 5am and 11pm.Nanai said the AvSec number was posted on a sign at the door of the screening area which they had tried calling.But they refused to open up because they said they did not have any staff available she said.