Due to the ongoing pandemic, mask mandates during air travel have become the norm, often to the annoyance and discomfort of travellers everywhere. Well, ‘The Great Unmasking’ is now here! As of September 9th, Australia’s Federal Department of Health has advised that masks are no longer required during air travel. As a result, all flights travelling to Australia on or after 12.01am on 9th September 2022 (AEST) will no longer require its passengers to wear a face mask during the duration of the flight.
This change will affect all domestic flights within Australia, as well as international flights travelling to Australia. There is an exception to this, however, as different destinations may have their own mandates and requirements, certain flights travelling from Australia will still require the wearing of masks for the duration of the flight. Therefore, the Department of Health advises that travellers should be aware of the local requirements and restrictions of their destination prior to their departure.
On all Qantas flights enroute to London, Rome and the USA, mask mandates during air travel have been lifted. In addition, all flights operating through Singapore Airlines will also no longer require its passengers to wear masks, however this may also depend on the destination of your flight. While flights operating to and from Singapore, the USA, the UK, France, Switzerland, Thailand and New Zealand do not require its passengers to wear masks, travellers are advised to check the requirements of their planned destinations and follow the local health advice accordingly.
Domestic airlines have been encouraging passengers to wear facemasks on local flights since May 2020, and in the year following the federal government ruled it as a mandatory requirement on all domestic flights from and within certain states and territories. However, since mid-June this year, airports across Australia have announced that wearing masks is optional, and now that this choice has spread to within the aeroplane itself, travellers will be overjoyed knowing that they will be able to fly comfortably to the land Down Under.
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel this year. Find more Festival Season flight deals now at: https://gauratravel.com.au/flight-deals/ We will see you there and sending our wishes for a happy Festival Season to all!
It’s the most joyous time of the year for Indians of the world! Festival season is here and in full swing, a time where families come together and celebrate their culture, religion and history through performing a variety of rituals and traditions. One of the most important aspects of any Indian festival is of course, the food! From sweet to savoury and everything in between, let’s have a look at the top 10 must eat foods this Festival season!
Barfi Let’s start the sweets off with Barfi! Made with milk powder, sugar, ghee and garnished with nuts, Barfi are a must have for your Festival feast! Sweet with a slight nuttiness and a melt in your mouth texture, Barfi is a familiar flavor we all know and love and no Mithai platter would be complete without them!
Kaju Katli Directly translating into cashew slice, Kaju Katli is a traditional sweet cut into diamond shapes and decorated with edible silver colouring. Made with cream, sugar and ground cashews, it’s a sweet treat that is pretty to look at as well as delicious!
Gajar Halwa A traditional North Indian dessert, Gajar Halwa is made by simmering grated carrots with milk, sugar and ghee. Although it directly translates into “Carrot Pudding” in English, this classic sweet has no eggs but rather is thickened naturally by cooking down the ingredients together for a long period of time until thickened. A favourite for many Indians, Gajar Halwa is a must have during Festival Season!
Gulab Jamun A classic Indian sweet, often referred to as the Indian donut, Gulab Jamun is made by frying balls of dough made with milk solids and flour, then soaking in a sweet sugary syrup scented with rose and cardamom. Loved by kids and adults alike, this sweet is essential for Indian festivities and is a great recipe to make together with your loved ones!
Soan Papdi A very popular Indian sweet ideal for any occasion, Soan Papdi is made from chickpea flour, ghee, sugar and milk, amongst other ingredients, and often topped with pistachios and almonds. Known for its flaky and melt-in-your-mouth texture, this treat is sure to bring a smile to everyone’s face!
Kaju Katli, Gajar Halwa, Gulab Jamun, Soan Papdi
Samosa Starting off strong with the savory foods, we can’t forget Samosas! Samosas are small, triangle shaped, pockets of pastry stuffed with mouth-watering ingredients including minced meat, grains, curry potatoes and vegetables as well as different kinds of spices to add both flavour and colour. An all-time favorite traditional Indian snack, whichever festival you celebrate, it’s not complete without samosas.
Aloo Tikki Aloo tikki are small, patty-shaped potato cutlets which are well-known as one of the indigenous snacks to the North Indian subcontinent. There are a few ways to call this tasty snack, as it is also known as Aloo Ki tikkia, Aloo ki tikki and Alu tikki. It’s prepared using boiled potatoes, peas, herbs and various authentic curry spices and served with a mint or yogurt dipping sauce. This is one popular street food snack that you’ll never want to miss!
Pakora Deep fried spiced potato and onion fritters coated in seasoned chickpea batter…aren’t you craving it already? Of course you are! When it comes to Festival season, this street food is a must have. Most Indian restaurants around the world serve pakora as an appetizer, so you can get your fix any time of year.
Dahi Bhalla Dahi Bhalla or Dahi Vada is a kind of chaat originating from Karnataka, which are soft lentil fritters dunked in creamy yogurt and topped with chutney, then garnished with spices, nuts, and pomegranates. This is one of the most popular street foods eaten around India, which melt in your mouth and will satisfy your sweet, spicy, and salty cravings.
Poha Chivda One of the most delicious snack mixes around, Chivda is a popular Indian snack made with a mix of flattened rice called poha, spices, curry leaves and nuts. This is eaten as a tea-time snack all year round and is made for festivals including Diwali, Ganesh Chaturthi and Holi. However you prepare your chivda, whether in a thin, thick or medium texture, it’s a healthy snack that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Samosa, Aloo Tikki, Pakora, Dahi Bhalla
Festival season is the time to enjoy good foods, good friends and good vibes! With our list of favourites, you can make sure you tick off the essential foods on your Festival season bucket list. Reinvigorate your mental taste buds and get your appetite ready for a delicious festival feast!
Missing home? Let us take you back home to your loved ones in India this Festival season. We know that without having your family and loved ones by your side, Festival season simply doesn’t feel complete. That’s why we offer numerous Flight Deals to reunite you with your loved ones, so you can celebrate the various festivities the best way – together.
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel this year. Find more Festival Season flight deals now at: https://gauratravel.com.au/flight-deals/ We will see you there and sending our wishes for a happy Festival Season to all!
Formerly claiming the top spot on the SKYTRAX World’s Top 10 Airports and even now sitting comfortably in 3rd place, Singapore’s Changi Airport is known as one of the best airports in the world, renowned for its cleanliness, shopping, facilities and seemingly endless supply of entertainment. While an airport in both name and function, Changi also offers numerous attractions and activities for travellers to enjoy, so much so that many travellers often plan mini vacations within the airport itself rather than simply transfer to their next flight straight away. Let’s go on a tour through Changi’s facilities and figure out what exactly makes this airport so special!
Entertainment + Attractions No airport in the world has Changi beat in terms of entertainment! Movie fanatics can enjoy a flick or two at either of the free 24-hour movie theatres located in Terminal 2 and 3. For the gamers out there, Terminal 4 also boasts an impressive Entertainment Deck where travellers can play their favourites on Xbox and Playstation. Travellers with an interest in art and history also have the opportunity to check out an impressive array of sculptures and exhibits, including the Kinetic Rain and Social Tree interactive exhibit, located in Terminal 1 and the Central Piazza. Little ones will be delighted by the numerous indoor playgrounds found within Terminals 1 and 3, the latter boasting the island’s tallest slide! For those looking to recharge and observe some greenery, travellers can check out the Cactus and Sculptural Tree Garden in Terminal 1, Interactive Enchanted Garden in Terminal 2 and even a two-story open-air Butterfly Garden in Terminal 3! Changi even has something to offer for those with some extra time and itching to do some sightseeing, operating 2-hour city tours at night for travellers at no extra cost. Finally, if you’re simply wanting to have a seat and surf the net, Changi Airport offers free Wi-Fi for all guests, so you can browse, stream and more to your hearts content.
Food + Drink Travellers will never go hungry in Changi Airport! With over 150 restaurants and eateries spanning multiple different cuisines at different price points, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. The International Food Hall, located in Terminal 4, hosts nine mini-restaurants, offering anything from fast food to fine dining. There’s also the Food Emporium which focuses on Asian and Singaporean dishes, as well as the Heritage Zone where travellers can sample classic Singaporean hawker stall favourites such as chicken rice, curry chicken and more. Most eateries are open 24 hours, so you can get your fix at any time during your travels.
Changi Airport
Hotels + Spa Exhausted from your flight and looking to rest and recharge? Changi has you covered! Each terminal sports its own transit hotel, offering overnight and day rooms. Don’t want to book a hotel? No worries! There’s plenty of lounges available throughout the airport, offering food, drinks, Wi-Fi, TV and more for a fixed entry price. Some lounges even offer shower facilities and nap rooms at an extra cost, so you can board your next flight feeling refreshed and energized. Fancy a swim or workout? Grab a pass to the swimming pool, Jacuzzi and shower facilities at the Aerotel Transit Hotel for a small fee. And finally, for those looking for a relaxing spa treatment and pampering, Changi offers a wide range of health and wellness spas as well as beauty salons throughout Terminals 1 to 3.
Shopping Reflecting the enthusiasm for shopping held by the locals, Changi Airport is a shopaholic’s paradise! Sporting over 400 shopping and duty-free outlets, Changi is often regarded as one of the country’s hottest shopping destinations. With an array of stores spanning from clothing to souvenirs to electronics, there’s something to suit everyone’s needs. Why not stop by Asia’s largest Nike store and create your own custom-designed shoes? Or perhaps you’re looking to snag some bargains at the DFS Wine and Spirits Duplex? Have an interest in drones? Why not take one for a test flight at E-Gadget? Keen to bring some authentic Singaporean delicacies back home? Asia Favourites, Bee Cheng Hiang and Taste Singapore are waiting for you! Even for those only quickly passing through the airport to transfer to the next flight, worry not, as travellers can visit iShopChangi and buy their preferred items online prior to their flight and pick them up at their chosen departure terminal.
So, now that you know all about what Changi Airport has to offer, why not experience it for yourself? Book your flight home today to visit your loved ones and experience a wonderful mini vacation in one of the world’s top airports along the way!
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel this year. Find all available flights options with us.
At Gaura Travel, our priorities start and end with you! We dedicate ourselves to working hard to provide you with the best experience possible on your flight home. But what exactly does this entail? Here you’ll find the top reasons why our valued customers pick us as their number 1 travel choice for finding their flight home, and why we are so dedicated to doing what we do.
How we offer the best service through our values
We pride ourselves on being driven by our values – convenience, trust, customer experience, and the overall value we can provide to our customers. Hailing from India ourselves, our team understands the hardships and difficulties that come with being separated from your family. What’s more, with visa and entry requirements always changing, we know that the process of travelling to and from India can be daunting and confusing, which is why we are committed to helping you experience the smoothest and most stress-free journey possible. Your convenience is our top priority!
On top of utilizing the most sophisticated technology to help you find the best flights at the best prices, we also offer you customization in selecting your direct and return flights, allowing you to put your comfort first and experience your best way home. With our Mix and Match flights, you can customize which airline you travel with, baggage requirements, flight connections and more. After all, we all know about the struggles of returning home with your suitcase heavier than before you left!
Our dedication and hard work has allowed us to be accredited by the Australian Federation of Travel Agents (AFTA) and the International Air Transport Association (IATA), which is not just an endorsement to our service, but also a reward we gain for your valued trust. If you should ever experience any hiccups or bumps on the road on your journey home, you can always rest assured that we are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, only a phone call away. Our highly knowledgeable staff are well versed in all things travel and will be there to support you wherever you go, no matter the time of day. Basically, we never take a break, so you can!
Why we do what we do
Over our 15 years of operation we have flown 1.5 million passengers and reunited over 20,000 families and counting. Seeing your smiling faces as you happily embrace your family members after months, years or even decades apart fills us with the determination to work even harder to fulfil your travel dreams. We are dedicated to you and your experience while travelling to see your loved ones, and we always look forward to being a part of your stories. Making precious memories with your loved ones is essential to the human experience, so let us help you fulfil that goal and reunite with your family today.
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
This year marks a massive milestone for our beautiful nation as we celebrate the 75th anniversary of our glory of victory and independence from British rule. Though it hasn’t always been easy, it’s been an incredible journey as we’ve come to grow into one of the strongest nations in the world. Known as a historic and momentous occasion, Independence Day is an event that all Indians throughout the world can celebrate, especially those living in Australia, which houses the second-largest group of overseas-born migrants in the world.
Independence Day events in Australia
You might be worried about missing this big day to celebrate the glory of your nation, but rest assured! There are many events taking place throughout the country, from cultural performances to exhibitions, galas and more. Read more below to find out about local Independence Day events taking place in your city this August.
Independence Day in Australia
Australian Capital Territory
Locals of ACT can witness the raising of the tricolour flag at the High Commission of India in Canberra, with the ceremony starting at 9am on August 15th. Later in the week on the 20th, celebrate with fellow members of the Indian-Australian community at the Weston Community Hub, where you can witness incredible stage show performances as well as art competitions and sample a range of tasty food. Festivities will take place from 4 to 9pm, and leave you brimming with Indian pride.
New South Wales
It’s all happening in NSW! Locals can enjoy an incredible exhibition of India’s finest textiles dating back to the 19th century at the Charkha and Kargha Exhibition at Powerhouse Museum Ultimo, which will start on the 13th. Later that same day kicking off at 7:45 pm, The Council of Indian Australians Inc will be throwing an India Day Dinner consisting of a luxurious three course buffet dinner and numerous stage performances at the Grand Royale Function Centre in Granville. On the 15th Sydney’s Consulate General of India will also be commemorating Independence Day with the annual hoisting of the Indian flag. Finally, share the love at the Australia-India Friendship Fair on the 21st, held at Prince Alfred Square in Paramatta, where fun and festivities await.
Victoria
VIC residents rejoice, for there’s a vast number of events for you to enjoy! This year’s Indian Film Festival of Melbourne will kick off on the 12th and run until the 30th , giving movie lovers a real treat to look forward to, with cricket star Kapil Dev and actor Amitabh Bachchan starting the festivities with a hoisting of the Indian flag. On the 15th Indians and Australians alike can witness the annual raising of the Indian flag at the Consulate General of India at 9am sharp, and celebrate with delicious food, drink and fun later in the week on the 20th at the Australian Indian Community Centre in Rowville, where the Federation of Indian Associations of Victoria will be throwing a multicultural gala for locals to enjoy.
Queensland
Festivities in Queensland will commence with the India Day Fair, held at the Amphitheatre at Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane, where locals can enjoy a variety of festivities such as parades, live music, stage performances and of course delicious food. Later in the day the festivities continue at Centenary Heights State High School in Toowomba with a flag hoisting ceremony followed by cultural performances and the opportunity to try lots of delicious authentic Indian cuisine. Finally, on the 15th, the Honorary Consulate General of India will be holding its own official flag hoisting ceremony to officially commemorate and celebrate Independence Day.
Western Australia
Residents of WA will enjoy a fantastic evening at Sangam 2022, held by the Indian Society of WA at the Perth Convention and Exhibition Centre. The event will feature a celebration of Indian music, with classical, folk and Bollywood dances to enjoy. On the 15th, Perth’s Consulate General of India will be holding the annual flag hoisting ceremony at 9am.
South Australia
Finally, in SA locals can experience a truly fascinating cultural event held at the Scott Theatre in the University of Adelaide. The Cultural Program, provided by the Indian Australian Associations of South Australia, will kick off at 1:30PM on the 14th, where locals can witness the flag hoisting ceremony as well as watch an educational cultural program with patriotic songs and enjoy a plethora of refreshments.
Here at Gaura Travel we hope you have a wonderful Independence Day and celebrate Indian pride with your friends, family and loved ones. Find out more about your local Independence Day events here: What’s on – Indian Link
If these events aren’t quite what you’re looking for, why not experience the real deal and fly back home to India this August? Let us help you get there and have the best Independence Day experience with your loved ones.
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
We all know that India and Australia have their fair share of airports. What’s more, is that India is known as the third largest domestic civil aviation market in the world right after the USA and China. With that knowledge, let’s dig deeper to discover the best airports in-between our target destinations of India and Australia.
Best Airports in India
Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages India’s main airports including 11 international airports, 81 domestic airports, 8 customs airports and 25 civil enclaves at defence airfields, which not only connect the cities, but also provide convenient and comfortable stopovers on your journey. At Gaura Travel we provide you with an array of affordable air travel options to the best airports throughout the country.
Best Airports in India
New Delhi Indira Gandhi International Airport
Most of our outbound flights connect to different cities in India through Indira Gandhi International airport, New Delhi, which is known as the busiest airport in India, as well as 6th busiest airport in Asia and 12th busiest airport in the world. This year, Skytrax World Airport Awards has awarded the Delhi airport as the best airport in India for the forth time in a row.
Not only does the airport offer a world-class shopping and dining experience, it is also one of the cleanest airports that you can find in South Asian region, maintaining its hygiene and cleanliness to a high standard. All this and more has allowed the Delhi airport to cement its rank in the world’s top 50 airports.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, Mumbai
CSMIA is known as one of the busiest and best airports in India, located north of downtown Mumbai. The airport was awarded with ‘World’s Best Airport in 2017’ and titled as ‘Best airport in India and Central Asia’ due to its services and convenience and accessibility to its passengers.
Chennai International Airport (MAA)
Chennai International Airport is located in the state of Tamil Nadu and is formerly known as Madras Airport. During the Covid-19 pandemic period, a majority of our Gaura Travel repatriation flights connected to the domestic flights at Chennai airport, as it currently acts as a hub for domestic airlines. Chennai airport is known as one of the busiest international routes connecting multiple locations across South Asia.
You can experience a wide number of services at Chennai airport including tourist and railway information booths, duty-free shopping, dining, currency exchange, security checks and much more.
Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru
In addition to New Delhi and Mumbai airports, Kempegowda International airport is acknowledged as the third busiest airport in India, located in Bangalore, Karnataka. The airport prides itself by being the first fully solar-powered airport operating in Karnataka and the 29th busiest airport in Asia. Voted as the ‘Best regional airport in Asia and Central India’, you can experience a range of cuisines, shopping, concierge services and more, all in one place.
Best Airports to travel in to Land Down Under
As Australia is known as the biggest country in the Southern Hemisphere, air travel is generally regarded the quickest and most efficient method of transportation both domestically and internationally. There are a vast number of airports in Australia with incredibly innovative design and architecture, as well as countless amenities and services at your disposal.
Best Airports in Australia
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport
Melbourne Tullamarine Airport is the second busiest airport in Australia after Sydney airport, serving more than 35M international and domestic passengers each year. A majority of international and domestic airlines feature deluxe lounges at the terminals in Melbourne Airport, where you can experience all the luxuries and comforts of a high-class hotel before boarding your flight.
Ranked as one of the top 10 airports in the world, you can experience world-class services such as duty-free shopping and dining, luxurious stayover hotels, and extensive facilities that provide comfort and convenience to its travellers.
Sydney Airport
Sydney Airport is the busiest airport Down Under, located in Australia’s largest city, Sydney. It features a range of amenities such as business and first-class luxury airline lounges, a variety of world-class branded shops and restaurants, and provides easy connections to public transport so that you can experience all this great city has to offer with ease.
Acting as a hub for a majority of international and domestic flights across the country, the number of passengers travelling through the airport increases substantially each year. Because of this, plans to expand Sydney airport have been implemented, so that in years to come there will be more of this iconic airport to enjoy.
Brisbane Airport
Brisbane Airport is the largest airport in Australia, as its location in Queensland is known as one of the biggest tourist destinations in the world. In a year it caters to more than 20 million tourists and features a variety of services including world-class dining and shopping. Like other major Airports, many airlines such as Emirates and Qantas offer luxury lounges for their travellers, allowing them to relax and unwind. Brisbane Airport is also renowned for its friendly airport staff, offering a warm welcome to all passengers excited to travel Down Under.
We offer numerous flights with major airlines including Singapore Airlines, Qantas, Air India and many more where you can easily access all these incredible airport destinations. You can find more information regarding travel restrictions and requirements on the official airport websites. Plan your trip with Gaura Travel and experience the best of the best when it comes to deals this year.
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
Its true when they say, we must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey. Our journey of repatriation has been nothing but the most challenging yet rewarding of all. When the pandemic caused distance between you and your family, it pained us. We knew we had to burn this fuel and set out on our mission to reunite you with your loved ones.
When our first charter flight took off in July 2020, with it also soared our goal to get you all closer to your home. With every flight, we got stronger and the distance weaker. Let’s just say, with every obstacle we grew more persistent on our goal. With your love and support, we have reunited more than 12,000 families till date, and today marks as another benchmark.
Our 75th Charter Flight from India to Australia
It’s a privilege to share that we are now 75charter flights old! Yes, we have reached the platinum on 30th August with the world renowned Srilankan Airlines and IndiGo Airlines.
Then flight departed from the major cities in India – New Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad to Chennai where they all met to catch the flight to Australia and celebrate the success of our charter journey!
The flight will reach Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane on 2nd September and many will be back with their families.
We Cannot believe we stand at 75 unstoppable flights today. This journey has made us the leaders in repatriation flights between India and Australia. We outpaced all restrictions, border closures and hurdles to be your best way home, and we couldn’t be happier.C
Celebrating With Gaura Family
To celebrate this glorious occasion, we shared the joy with the our passengers in Chennai, India who were flying with us to Australia! Celebrations took over and there was music, flowers, cake and delicious lunch served. We couldn’t have achieved this milestone without the love and support of our Gaura family.
This has been nothing but a beautiful odyssey for all of us. When one door closed, another opened…and we couldn’t be more grateful to you guys for supporting us at every step.
Seeing the joy on your faces when you unite with your families is what motivates us to work hard everyday. We are not stopping now…our goal is clear. Now that we are on 75, the century isn’t far! With your support we will keep rising and flying with you, and well…century isn’t so far!
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
The world has seen unprecedented changes due to Covid -19. When India, the second most populous country in the world was hit by a devastating second wave of COVID-19, it was hard to imagine how the nation would combat it. But how can we forget that India is no ordinary country? Over its rich history, it has showed countless examples of its unparalleled ability to pick itself up and fight back.
A nation of 1.3 billion people battened down their hatches and came together to show enduring resilience in the fight against the pandemic. With the endless efforts of the frontline workers, government, and the courageous citizens of the country, India prepares itself to bounce back!
The covid cases across the country have witnessed a drop in daily caseload count and several Indian states have started to relax lockdown curbs as coronavirus infections subside.
Initially, the second wave saw India’s daily reported cases spike to more than 300,000 infections daily. However now, with a little over 100,000 new infections across India, daily cases in the country dropped to the lowest level seen in over two months. The seven-day average of new infections in the country has dropped by over 68% from the peak.
The country has so far administered 20,57,20,660 anti-Covid jabs and the recovery rate of patients has increased to 90.34%.
These numbers provide a great deal of relief and hope.
India Unites as One
In the midst of a brutal second wave and a shortage of crucial life saving supplies, India’s COVID-19 patients, and their families turned to social media to save lives. Thousands of people and volunteers amplified the requests of people searching for hospital beds, ventilators and oxygen cylinders on social platforms. Twitter hashtags like #CovidSOS and #CovidEmergency became popular among users. Volunteers set up websites and apps to track vaccine availability. Many people also volunteered to make home-cooked meals for patients quarantining at home while others offered assistance with tasks like grocery shopping. It is amazing to see how the country came together to help one another weather the unprecedented crisis.
Gaura Travel Resumes Flights from India to Australia
Even during the most devastating phase of COVID-19, our team was there 24×7 for our customers. We know a lot of you have been wanting to travel to Australia and have waited for the borders to reopen. We have amazing news for you – our flights from India to Australia are now open and operating. Flights for the month of July are available to Book Now.
Fly back home to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane! What are you waiting for? Book your tickets today!
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
Gaura Travel a Melbourne-based travel company founded 14 years ago, decided in June last year to face the challenges that COVID-19 brought during 2020. When no commercial flights were operating to India and the whole world was in lockdown, Abhishek and Ashwini Sonthalia (CEOs & founders of Gaura Travel) repatriated Indian citizens from Australia with the help of their team. Since then, the agency has operated more than 40 charter flights reuniting 10,000 families.
Like any other travel company in Australia, Gaura Travel had to close its offices during the first lockdown at the end of march in 2020, however the contact center continued operating 24/7 to solve the doubts of the customers when the confinements started. The future looked tough; the sales decreased to zero and many refunds had been issued due to the unfeasibility of running flights. The uncertainty of this moment in time made the owners and their employees’ resilience more prominent than ever. They had to find new alternatives to keep the travel agency running. Ashwini and Abhishek started to knock on the doors of airlines and government institutions (in Australia and India) seeking for a way to help those in need of travel. After a couple of months, they got support from the Indian Consulate in Melbourne, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air to operate the firsts repatriation charter flights to India.
The idea was to create a couple of flights to find the best way home for Indians who wanted to return to their country. It was a big surprise for the company when those first two flights got booked out immediately. That was the moment when Gaura Travel opened more monthly flights from Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide to the main cities in India such as Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Bangalore and many more without knowing how long it would be possible to keep doing it for.
A milestone for Gaura Travel
Last Friday, February 5th 2021, Akash Rajput an International Student of Deakin University became the 10,000th passenger of the repatriation charter flights to India from Australia organized by Gaura Travel. This accomplishment made the agency the largest operator of this new charter flight industry. “We didn’t know when we started everything that it would get this far, so it’s all thanks to the support of our customers and our team… we are going to continue on this mission of reuniting as many families as we can…” said Ashwini at Melbourne Airport when he congratulated Akash for being the passenger 10,000 who also got an upgrade of his ticket to Business Class.
“Mr. Raj Kumar, the Consul General of India in Melbourne one day told me, you will get plenty of opportunities in your life to make money but take this as an opportunity to make blessings” expressed Abhishek later the same day during the celebration event of “Reuniting 10,000 families”. The event was organized by the agency which included the attendance of people from the Indian community, the travel industry, the presence of Raj Kumar (Consul General of India in Victoria) and the Gaura Travel team members.
10,000 families have been reunited in India during the last 7 months thanks to the effort of Gaura Travel and the support of the Indian Consulate in Melbourne, Singapore Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Malaysia Airlines and Malindo Air. The travel agency will organize charter flights for at least the next couple of months (February and March), trying to continue reuniting more than 10,000 families in India during the first quarter of 2021.
Travelling in 2022 with Gaura Travel
As there are no quarantine or travel restrictions required in place, plan your journey to reunite with your family & friends with Gaura Travel in this year 2022. Find all available flights options with us.
