A government-organised flight has also repatriated 148 Australians, she said.
New Zealand is flying in 37 people, mostly search-and-rescue specialists, government officials said. A separate C-130 military transport plane with 18 personnel, rescue equipment and disaster supplies landed on Thursday.
Nine people have been confirmed dead by Port Vila’s hospital and that number is likely to rise, according to the latest update by Vanuatu’s disaster management office.
Two of the dead were Chinese citizens and one French, their embassies have said.
The quake caused “major structural damage” to more than 10 buildings including the main hospital, it said, while also hitting three bridges, power lines, water reserves and mobile communications.
The shipping port is closed following a “major landslide”.
French engineers have declared Port Vila’s airport runway operational, although it has not re-opened to commercial flights.
The death toll will “definitely go up”, said Craig, of the Vanuatu business council.
However the country and its people depended on tourism and agriculture, he warned.
‘People need to come back’
“We can’t have an economic disaster on top of a natural disaster,” Craig said, urging a quick restart of the tourism business.
“The runway is in great condition and it has been a huge focus for the government to get that terminal open by tonight or latest tomorrow for commercial flights,” he said.
“People need to come and go, it brings normality back.”
