Lexi Webster
Australia banned all direct commercial flights from India in May 2021, as India battled a surge in COVID-19 cases. This ban was met with criticism from experts, who questioned why Australia had not suspended flights from other countries with higher COVID-19 cases per capita. The Australian government responded by organising repatriation flights from India, with the first scheduled to depart on 15 May 2021. These repatriation flights aimed to bring home thousands of Australians stranded in India, focusing on those deemed vulnerable.
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What You'll Learn
Australia banned direct commercial flights from India in May 2021
The Australian government, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison, cited the "clearly present" risks of travel from India as the reason for the ban. India was facing a massive surge in coronavirus infections, with cases staying above 300,000 for several consecutive days and a record daily rise of 414,188 cases reported on Friday, May 7, 2021. The ban aimed to prevent a potential third wave of COVID-19 in Australia and ease the pressure on the nation's quarantine system.
During this period, Australia offered repatriation flights to bring vulnerable Australians home from India. These flights required passengers to undergo rapid antigen testing and register a negative result before returning to Australia. The first repatriation flight from India was scheduled for May 15, 2021, with up to six repatriation flights expected to arrive in Australia by the end of the month.
The flight ban and the suspension of arrivals from India sparked criticism and concerns from experts and epidemiologists. Some argued that the ban was likely "an act out of fear" and questioned why similar bans were not implemented during larger spikes in other countries, such as the United States and the United Kingdom. Experts urged the Morrison government to overturn the suspension or risk the perception that the policy was 'racist'.
While the Australian government insisted that the ban was necessary to protect Australians from the risks associated with travel from India, others believed that Australia had an ethical responsibility to ensure safe quarantine procedures for returning travellers and provide access to healthcare for Australians in India. Professor Peter Collignon, an expert in infectious diseases, argued that Australia needed to rethink blanket bans and allow Australians to return from India due to the risk of contracting the virus in a country with uncertain hospital access.
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Australians stranded in India
As of May 2021, there were around 9,000 to 10,000 Australians stranded in India due to the Australian government's suspension of all flights from the country. This included Australian cricketers and former cricketers in the IPL. The Australian Cricketers' Association stated that these players could either stay back in India or fly to a third country.
The Australian government's decision to suspend flights was criticised by some as being driven by 'fear' and risking being perceived as 'racist'. Experts argued that Australia had not implemented similar measures in response to larger spikes in other countries, such as the UK and the US. The government defended its decision, citing the need to ease pressure on the nation's quarantine system and protect Australians from a potential third wave of COVID-19.
Melbourne-based travel agencies Gaura Travel and Mann Travel, which operated chartered flights from Australia to India, believed that additional flights may not be enough to bring all stranded Australians home. They had been applying for permission to operate flights from India since June 2020 but had been denied.
The Australian government announced plans for repatriation flights from India starting on May 15, 2021, with a focus on returning vulnerable Australians. However, the government did not commit to a timeline for bringing all Australians stuck in India back home.
As of November 2022, there is no mention of a direct flight ban between Australia and India. Qantas and Jetstar have resumed some international routes, allowing fully vaccinated travellers to fly. However, it is always recommended to check the latest entry requirements before booking a flight.
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Repatriation flights from India to Australia
In May 2021, Australia resumed repatriation flights from India for stranded citizens amidst the Covid-19 spread. The first flight after the Australian government imposed a temporary ban on flights from India departed on 15 May. The ban was implemented to ease the pressure on the nation's quarantine system following a surge in coronavirus cases of Indian origin.
The repatriation flights facilitated by the Australian government focused on returning vulnerable Australians, residents, and families who had registered with the High Commission and consular offices within India. Those boarding flights were required to undergo rapid antigen testing for Covid-19 and PCR tests before departure and were not able to return to Australia with a positive result. Passengers were also required to undergo a strict quarantine to ensure they were not carrying the variant of the coronavirus first identified in India.
The Australian government has delivered over 15 tonnes of medical supplies to India, including over 2,000 ventilators and more than 100 oxygen concentrators. The Minister for Health and Aged Care, Greg Hunt, stated that the government stood ready to offer further emergency medical supplies if requested.
In May 2020, the Indian government initiated the 'Vande Bharat Mission', a massive evacuation process to repatriate Indian nationals stranded in Australia due to the coronavirus outbreak. Nearly 1,800 Indians were repatriated by the end of the first phase of the evacuation. The Deputy High Commissioner of India, P.S. Karthigeyan, expressed commitment to accommodating those left out in the first phase and conducting more repatriation flights in the future.
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Australians of Indian origin support the ban
Australia's decision to ban flights from India during the COVID-19 pandemic was controversial, with many Australians criticising the move as "racist". The ban, which came into effect on May 3, 2021, prevented around 9,000 Australians, most of Indian origin, from returning home. Those who ignored the ban faced jail time or hefty fines.
While the Australian government argued that the ban was necessary to protect its citizens and ease pressure on the nation's quarantine system, critics, including Australians of Indian origin, disagreed with the decision and the manner in which it was implemented.
Some Australians of Indian origin supported the ban, understanding the government's rationale for implementing it. They recognised the urgency of the situation in India, which was battling a surging COVID-19 outbreak, and appreciated the government's efforts to prioritise the safety of its citizens and prevent a third wave of the virus in Australia. They agreed with the government's assertion that the ban was not targeted at people of Indian origin but was rather a necessary measure to control the spread of the virus.
Additionally, some Australians of Indian origin may have supported the ban due to concerns about the Indian healthcare system's ability to guarantee hospital access for travellers contracting the virus in India. They may have felt that the risks of remaining in India outweighed the challenges of being temporarily stranded there.
Furthermore, the Australian government's efforts to organise repatriation flights for vulnerable citizens and their expression of gratitude towards the Indian-Australian community for their patience and understanding could have been well-received by some Australians of Indian origin, who may have interpreted these actions as a sign of the government's commitment to their safety and well-being.
While there were differing opinions within the Indian-Australian community regarding the ban, it is essential to acknowledge the community's growing influence in Australian politics and its potential to shape future policies and decisions.
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Experts say the ban is 'racist'
In 2021, the Australian government banned all direct flights from India due to the surge in coronavirus cases in the country. This ban stranded thousands of Australians in India, including high-profile cricketers and former Australian cricketer Michael Slater, who was commentating in India for the IPL. Slater criticized Prime Minister Scott Morrison for the ban, saying that he had government permission to work in India and that the government was neglecting its citizens. He also stated that Morrison would have "blood on his hands."
Many Australians criticized the ban as racist, arguing that the government did not implement similar measures during the peaks of the pandemic in the UK and US, which had higher per capita cases than India. Melbourne GP and health commentator Vyom Sharma said that the move appeared inconsistent with Australia's response to peaks of the virus in the US and Europe. Disability advocate Nicole Lee pointed out that Australians were not stopped from returning from the UK and the US at the peak of the pandemic, even though these countries were responsible for a greater share of overseas-acquired cases in Australia.
Epidemiologists and experts also questioned the ban, stating that India had fewer coronavirus cases per capita than the US or UK during their respective peaks. Mary-Louise McLaws, a professor of epidemiology at the University of New South Wales and a World Health Organization advisor, argued that the ban was likely "an act out of fear." She added that as a multicultural country, Australia had a responsibility to care for its multicultural community and ensure that citizens could return home safely.
In response to the criticism, the Australian government organized repatriation flights from India starting on May 15, 2021, to return vulnerable Australians stranded in the country. Prime Minister Morrison thanked the Indian Australian community for their patience and understanding during this period.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Australia banned direct commercial flights from India in May 2021 as India battled a surge in COVID-19 cases. However, the Australian government organised repatriation flights from India to return vulnerable Australians home.
The Australian government implemented the ban to ease the pressure on the nation's quarantine system following a surge in coronavirus cases of Indian origin. Critics of the ban, including epidemiologists, argued that the decision was made out of fear and risked being perceived as racist.
As of May 2021, the Australian government had not committed to a timeline for lifting the ban. However, it was reported that at least six repatriation flights from India were expected to arrive in Australia from 15 May 2021 onwards.
