The Telegraph: UK spends tens of thousands of pounds to deport one migrant

The UK Home Office used a chartered passenger aircraft to deport a single migrant to France in January, with the flight costing tens of thousands of pounds, according to figures obtained by The Telegraph.

The flight, which took place on January 7, was reportedly the only chartered deportation flight during the year that carried just one migrant. The individual was understood to have complex physical medical needs.

The aircraft had originally been scheduled to transport migrants to France under the UK-France “one in, one out” arrangement, under which France accepts certain migrants who cross the English Channel while the UK accepts a corresponding number of asylum seekers through legal routes. However, the migrants originally scheduled for the flight were removed from the passenger list for undisclosed reasons.

The Home Office subsequently used the aircraft to deport the migrant with medical needs, according to the report.

Home Office data show that 74 chartered flights were used to deport foreign offenders and migrants between February 1, 2025, and January 31, 2026. A total of 2,835 people were removed during the period at a combined cost of £13.8 million, or nearly £5,000 per person.

The average cost of each chartered flight was approximately £186,000.

Albania accounted for the largest number of chartered deportation flights, with 42 aircraft carrying 1,810 people back to the country. Romania was the next-largest destination by number of deportees, with 329 people removed on seven flights.

The UK also operated 14 charter flights to France, carrying 282 people, while other flights transported migrants and foreign offenders to countries including India, Nigeria, Ghana, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Vietnam and Poland.