The Cook Strait ferries have been the main beneficiaries of the disruption to air services caused by the ash cloud drifting around the southern hemisphere from Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano.
KiwiRail spokeswoman Cathie Bell said travel on the Interislander between Picton and Wellington was up 100 per cent on Thursday, but was back to normal a day later.
The Auckland-Wellington Overlander train service did not run on Thursday but was full both ways on Friday. The Tranzcoastal service between Picton and Christchurch has not run since the February 22 earthquake.
Bluebridge spokeswoman Wendy Pannett said they had experienced a small surge in Cook Strait bookings.
The effect of the ash cloud on rental car companies was mixed.
Avis Rental Cars managing director Kathryn O'Neil said her company had not gained from the air disruption.
"There have been people wanting to go one way to various places and we've accommodated that when we can, but we've also got cancellations [from people who could not fly]."
Other rental car companies reported a similar situation.
Bus and Coach Association chief executive Raewyn Bleakley said the major companies had reported only a small increase in bookings.
No extra services had been required, she said.
Airport shops in Wellington had suffered, as most passengers knew their flights had been cancelled and simply stayed home.
Woodward Group general manager Samantha Lacoua said business for food outlets had been "rather quiet" because of the interruptions.
Meanwhile, a family whose plans to make a new life in Australia – after surviving the Christchurch earthquake – were thwarted by flight disruptions made it safely to their new home at the weekend.
Zamela Henry, partner Daniel Berryman and their children, Lucy and Sam, fled to Dunedin on the day of the deadly 6.3 quake, later moving in with family in Blenheim.
However, their plans to start a new life in Australia last week were thwarted when their flights were cancelled because of the ash cloud.
The family were rebooked and left New Zealand on Friday without any further delays, Ms Henry said.
They were happy to have made it, she said.
"We just had to get over the wee obstacles in our way."
Civil Aviation Authority spokesman Bill Sommer yesterday said flights should not be disrupted for the next few days.
However, the volcano was still erupting and there was no guarantee travellers would not face further disruption, he said.
- The Marlborough Express
SIMON WONG AND FAIRFAX
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