Qantas flight from Bali with ex-pat Aussies lands in the NT
Dozens of Australians have arrived home on a long-awaited DFAT flight from Bali - but not all the passengers were allowed to leave.
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A repatriation flight of Australians desperate to escape Indonesia’s worsening Covid-19 crisis landed in Darwin on Wednesday night.
The Australians arived on Qantas flight QF108 at 7.20pm Darwin time and were then taken to the Northern Territory’s Howard Springs facility to complete the mandatory 14 days quarantine.
Ex-pat Amelia Lemondhi and her husband, who had a home and business in Jakarta and both caught Covid recently, are among the almost 200 passengers.
“We just got our negative tests on Friday … and were offered the tickets on Saturday.”
It was a surprise to the couple, who scrambled to get organised to fly to Bali on Monday evening ahead of Tuesday’s departure.
“We are so grateful. We didn't expect to get on the fight … [We’re] very emotional.”
She sympathised with the many Australians who missed out on flights.
News Corp understands a couple and their baby were supposed to be on the flight – but they were forced off after contracting Covid at the last minute.
They weren’t experiencing symptoms, but had sold and donated their belongings and were packed ready to go.
“It’s devastating for them,” Ms Lemondhi said.
Another Australian, Charlie Knoles, told how the seats were snapped up.
“By the time DFAT emailed me with an invitation the seats were all gone,” he said.
Georgia Sutherland left Bali with her husband Hamish and their three children, Sienna, Skye and Lachlan and a bid an emotional farewell to staff who had worked for her for 19 years.
“It’s been a very emotional day. We’re heartbroken, but its the right thing to do for the kids.”
They would return to Western Australia after completing quarantine.
“Perth is where we call home as that’s where our family is.”
Qantas declined to comment, referring inquiries to DFAT.
A DFAT spokesman said a second flight would be organised from Indonesia.
“A Government facilitated commercial flight has arrived in Darwin today from Denpasar, with 186 passengers. We continue to work on assisting Australians to return from Indonesia, including through a second repatriation flight,” the spokesman said.
Around 1,200 people are currently registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being in Indonesia and wanting to return. This number changes regularly according to people’s circumstances.
“A Government facilitated commercial flight has arrived in Darwin today from Denpasar, with 186 passengers. We continue to work on assisting Australians to return from Indonesia, including through a second repatriation flight,” the spokesman said.
“Around 1,200 people are currently registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being in Indonesia and wanting to return. This number changes regularly according to people’s circumstances.”
A total of 18 flights are expected into the NT this month – bringing home thousands of Aussies who have been stranded around the world since the pandemic began ravaging the world last year.
The other flights are from New Delhi, London, Frankfurt and Johannesburg.
The number of Australian who can return home has been slashed in response to the spiralling coronavirus crisis that has seen much of the eastern seaboard in lockdown in recent weeks.
The number of passengers who can fly on commercial airlines is restricted to just over 3000 a week.
About 38,000 Australians have registered to return home – with about 4500 considered to be “vulnerable” due to their medical conditions or visa conditions.
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