Repatriation flight seats left empty after Australians test positive for COVID-19 in India

The flight had a capacity of just 150 passengers, due to social distancing restrictions, but more than 70 will be unable to fly.

That includes more than 40 people who tested positive for COVID-19. Close contacts of people who tested positive will also be unable to fly. 

The flight will be the first to leave India bound for Australia since the federal government imposed a ban last month.

There are about 10,000 Australians, permanent residents and their immediate family members seeking to return home from India.

Almost 1,000 of those are considered vulnerable. 

More to come.