Flights from Singapore to Christchurch resume

Singapore Airlines has resumed flights between Singapore and New Zealand’s Christchurch.

Travel Insurance News - 24/02/2011

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Singapore Airlines (SIA) has resumed flights between Singapore and the New Zealand city of Christchurch following the deadly earthquake that destroyed many buildings in the city. The first flight will be carrying people who were stranded in New Zealand after the disaster.

SIA flight SQ297D was expected to arrive at Aukland at 6am this morning and then continue to Christchurch. Another flight, SQ 297 will reach Christchurch later, following a stopover at Sydney.

Singapore Airlines says the stopovers are needed to refuel the planes as the airline’s supplier in Christchurch is rationing jet fuel because of the damage to infrastructure there. Almost 100 people have been confirmed dead in Christchurch and supplies of fuel, water and power have been interrupted in several areas of the city.

Another 226 people are still missing following Tuesday’s quake, which registered 6.3 on the Richter scale. The number of people dead or missing is expected to rise further, as overseas people could still be reported missing.

Passengers on the first flights from Singapore to Christchurch include people returning to their home and some who are in the process of moving to New Zealand. One man, who had left his job in Britain, had no idea if the home into which he was supposed to be moving was still standing.

Another man, who is originally from Christchurch, said he was keeping tabs on friends and family through social media sites. Returning home after four years abroad, the man pointed out that buildings can be rebuilt but once you lose people, they are gone.

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