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Hundreds of airline passengers have been stranded for days in the South Sea paradise of Vanuatu because the national airline’s only long-haul plane has stopped functioning. Twenty international flights have been canceled or postponed to another day since last Friday after the Boeing 737 experienced a mechanical problem, New Zealand news site Stuff reported on Wednesday, citing Air Vanuatu. The company is waiting for a replacement part, but that is difficult to obtain.

According to media reports, the stranded people are mainly Australians and New Zealanders. The airline from the island state of Nauru has intervened to operate at least some of the canceled flights, according to a statement from Air Vanuatu on Monday. Until the Boeing is repaired, every effort will be made to help affected passengers, said Jonas George, spokesman for the airline. “We continue to support travelers stuck in Vanuatu with accommodation and food and we will keep the service desk at Port Vila Airport manned at all times,” George said.

Vanuatu consists of about 80 islands, has a population of about 300,000 – and only one aircraft suitable for long-haul flights. It is not the first time this year that the Boeing 737-800 has been grounded: at the end of March, the aircraft had a technical problem in Brisbane, Australia. It then took weeks before the necessary spare part could be installed and the aircraft took off again. (rbu/sda/dpa)