The first flight carrying stranded German tourists and citizens home from New Zealand has taken off from Auckland airport.
The 342-seat Air NZ 777-300 left Auckland at 4.30pm and will stop in Vancouver before landing at Frankfurt's Main Airport early on Saturday, April 4 local time.
![NeedToKnow3](https://www.nzherald.co.nz/resizer/v2/QVZ2LZCTQAGKB7QII6JBCT5QJE.jpg?auth=3947111838770945cd32080ccc21a673e4b0cd2b51cb3047a021d9de5aaf9c0e&width=16&height=17&quality=70&smart=true)
Air NZ said flight NZ1960 was the first of several 777-300's chartered by the German Government.