Hawke's Bay based Skyline Aviation dispatched the Cessna Sovereign 680 jet last week to collect a patient from Vanuatu.
The direct flight from Napier to Port Vila was made with a full intensive care team on board that accompanied the patient to Auckland for hospital care.
Skyline Aviation's managing director Mike Toogood said after five years of service in the Pacific, the aircraft had given the company new capabilities.
It could now fly non-stop to some airports while still landing on short runways, Mr Toogood said.
