The first 80 Australians return home after the contentious travel ban on India was imposed, ending a lengthy period of uncertainty.

Australia welcomed its first repatriation flight from India since the controversial travel restrictions were implemented. 80 Australians arrived in Darwin on Saturday, where they were immediately transferred to quarantine facilities.

Several passengers on the Qantas flight from New Delhi were unable to board after testing positive for COVID-19, with close contacts also barred from traveling, according to Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

The Australian government's stringent travel ban on India has sparked controversy, with ministers facing accusations of racism after threatening severe penalties, including five years of imprisonment, for anyone violating the restrictions.

Saturday's flight marked the first in a series of repatriation efforts to bring 9,000 Australians stranded in India back home. The next flight is set for May 23, as confirmed by Foreign Minister Marise Payne on Friday.

Upon arrival, travelers are required to undergo a two-week quarantine at a repurposed mining camp located in Howard Springs, Northern Territory, as reported by Reuters.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg addressed the media, stating, 'We are adhering to medical advice to protect Australians, and I’m pleased the first flight has arrived. More flights will follow,' according to the news agency.

'It's crucial that we carry out testing before passengers board flights to Australia. This is the procedure we are following and will continue to implement,' a government official stated.

India is grappling with a severe coronavirus surge, reporting 326,098 new infections and 3,890 deaths on Saturday. The country has seen nearly 25 million confirmed COVID-19 cases since the pandemic began.

Around 9,000 Australians in India have officially registered with the federal government, seeking assistance to return home.

The blanket travel ban on arrivals from India has sparked significant opposition from Australia’s Indian community, human rights advocates, and even some government officials.

Senator Matt Canavan criticized the ban in a tweet earlier this month, stating that addressing flaws in Australia’s quarantine system should take precedence over leaving fellow Australians stranded abroad.

'We should focus on bringing Australians home from India, not imprisoning them,' he added in his tweet.

Foreign Minister Marise Payne confirmed that Saturday's flight brings the total number of government-arranged repatriation flights from India to 39, with over 6,400 Australians brought home since March 2020.

Since the onset of the pandemic, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has facilitated the return of more than 45,700 Australians through over 500 flights, including 128 government-organized flights that brought back more than 18,800 people, according to a DFAT spokesperson speaking to Dinogo.