With no commercial flights available, the Government of Vanuatu requested assistance from New Zealand to help get the mostly seasonal workers home.
They are being flown to Port Vila, with eight flights due to depart from either Christchurch or Auckland. There were further flights over the weekend and into next week.
There are over 1000 Vanuatu nationals stranded in New Zealand.
All passengers are following Vanuatu Government requirements, including a health check prior to boarding and a 14-day quarantine on arrival in Vanuatu.