Ninety Recognised Seasonal Employer (RSE) workers have made it home to Vanuatu on alternative flights, but the future of the country’s airline is still in the air.

Seasonal Solutions Cooperative was able to book flights on Fiji Airways and Solomon Airlines for many Central Otago workers, but those remaining were not enjoying the early winter.

Ministry of Internal Affairs - Vanuatu Government country liaison officer Olivia Johnson said it had been a difficult situation, with another 80 workers due to arrive in New Zealand this week.

By June 5 a total of 1200 RSE’s visas will have expired, adding more pressure to the flight network between New Zealand and the Pacific Islands, after Air Vanuatu went into liquidation.

“They are fearful and fretting and just want to know what is happening . . . the snow has been a big shock to their system. I just don’t know how it’s going to pan out,” she said.

Those who booked with travel agents have been able to divert their flights onto one of the other airlines, and Fiji Airways had upgraded its AT3 to a bigger aircraft to cope with demand.

But, employers who had booked and already paid for flights for their workers on Air Vanuatu, it was just a case of waiting to see if the Vanuatu Government would step in to help.

Olivia had been told the Government would make it a priority, but little information had come through her office so far.

“This is going to leave a really bad taste in their mouths, because they just want to go home.”

Many of the workers had already sent home their money to families and a lot of effort was going into pastoral care, similar to during Covid-19 when many workers were stranded here.

Food and clothing are being donated by local charities, and employers are covering accommodation costs while they wait for flights to become available.