The anxious wait is over for a Victorian couple expecting their first child after they were bumped off their Los Angeles flight to Australia last month.
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Dylan-Lee and Emilio Polanco were expected to fly home to Australia on August 11 but they were bumped off their flight after the federal government halved international passenger arrivals due to the threat of COVID-19's Delta strain.
The pair were desperate to get home to Victoria, where their parents live in Bacchus Marsh and Ballan, before it was too unsafe for Ms Polanco to board a plane.
The Polanco's flight was rescheduled to almost four weeks from the initial flight and it wasn't until they boarded the plane on Sunday at 4pm (AEST) to come home that the couple could relax.
Ms Polanco is 27 weeks' pregnant and got her doctor's approval to fly just in time. It is unsafe for women who are 28 weeks' pregnant to fly.
The pair, who have lived in America for about seven years, sent a photo and text message to family members with the caption, "We are finally on a plane. Still so surreal that this is actually happening".
Ms Polanco's sister Jade Lourey, who lives in Ballarat, said the couple had always planned to raise their family in the Ballarat area where they had family support.
Ms Lourey said it was amazing her sister and brother-in-law were finally on their way home.
"It's been such an emotional long journey, not knowing if they will make it back. Now my mum is ecstatic and my other sister is so happy to have them coming home," Ms Lourey said.
"It's an exciting day for our family. We are happy we will get to see them as soon as they are here. We have the outcome to what we wanted."
- Jade Lourey
Ms Lourey said it was special for the siblings' grandfather, who is 87, to be able to see the baby when it arrives in December.
The Polancos will land at Sydney Airport and will be required to quarantine for 14 days at a medic hotel before making their way to Victoria.
They have both been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The Polancos will live with Ms Polanco's mother in Ballan when they return to Victoria.
Ms Lourey said she would like to thank Ballarat MP Catherine King who contacted her following The Courier's article about the couple's situation last month.
IN THE NEWS:
Ms King's office then contacted the parliamentary liaison at the Department of Home Affairs to offer help and contact was then made with the Australian consulate-general in Los Angeles.
Australia's limit on international arrivals was cut from 6000 to 3000 passengers a week from July 14 due to the risks posed by the Delta strain of COVID-19.
It was feared at the time, people who could afford to pay tens of thousands of dollars for their one-way ticket to Australia were being prioritised.
There are about 34,000 Australians registered with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as being stuck overseas and wanting to come home.
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