The school holidays haven't begun well for air travellers.

12 Auckland and Christchurch flights have been cancelled today because of staff shortages, technical difficulties and weather.

E tū Union Head of Aviation Savage says aviation employers are dealing with staffing issues all over the place.

He told Andrew Dickens they won't be solved overnight.

“And then when they’re getting staff in, it takes time to train people and get them the security clearance they need to work in an aviation environment.”

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