6 flights set to repatriate Canadians stuck in India due to COVID-19

The first of six flights to repatriate some of the 15,000 Canadianpassport-holders stranded in India due to the COVID-19 pandemic is scheduled to leave Delhi on Saturday.

The cost per ticket is estimated at $2,900, available on a first-come, first-served basis, according to anemail from Global Affairs Canada.

The special flights will connect through London, and are available to citizens and immediate family members who are permanent residents of Canada,who hold a valid permanent resident cardand who will be accompanying the Canadian citizen on the flight.

NavJhawerhas applied to get his mother and father home on one of the flights after three previousreturn bookings fell through amid India's total travel and airspace lockdown.

"I've been worried a fair amount," he said. "I saidto them the most important thing is you have to keep yourself healthy so you can get on a flight."

Jhawer says mother his Parkash, 66, and fatherSurinder, 72, of Campbell River, B.C., are snowbirds whospendwinters in the Punjab in northern India.

WATCH | Canadians stuck in India:

Canadians stuck in India's COVID-19 lockdown desperate to return

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The thousands of Canadians stuck in India amid a COVID-19 lockdown are starting to lose hope, with no repatriation flights planned to get them out.

He says the $2,900 price tagis steep but heis more worriedabout thosewho may not be able to afford it.

"At the end of the day, I made the decision that my parents need to be home," he said. "But think about a family of four who are already stressedor with parents whocould be laid off from work."

One flight per day is scheduled to leaveIndira Gandhi International Airport in Delhi starting Saturday through next Tuesday.

Two additional flights will depart from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport inMumbai, the first on Saturday and another next Tuesday.

Jhawer says he's waiting to hear the details of howhis parents willmake the eight-hour trip to Delhi if their application is accepted, considering the sweeping travel ban that's in place.

"At this point, I would hope all those littlepieces have been thought through," he said.

CBCNews asked Global Affairs Canada for more information on the repatriation flights but hadn't heard back at the time of publication.

Financial concerns

Surrey resident Ravi Gillstarted the Facebook group,"Bring Canadians home from Punjab" to provide support to family and friends who are trying to help people come home or for people who have found themselves stuck in India.

"My father is there. My uncles, and aunt who are all over 65 are over there," said Gill.

More than 900 people joined the group in theweek after India closed its airspace to incoming flights, meaning commercial flights back to Canada were cancelled.

Gill said news of the repatriation fights is bittersweet.

"It's good news but very disappointing as well."

The federal government is offering a five thousand dollar emergency loan for people who qualify to pay for ticket costs.

Gill said hehopes Ottawa will do more to help people who may also be coming back to shaky employment or no job.

"There's families there of two, three, four, five people so having them to pay for this ticket upfront I think is not fair at this moment for the families."

Still, Global Affairs is warning Canadians that while India is under lockdown until April 14, new Indian government measures and or clarifications could be announced with little warning.