Did you know the U.S. deported over 142,000 people via flights in 2023 alone—more than four times the number of deportees from the Netherlands that same year—and that even small European countries like Finland and the Czech Republic conducted dozens of deportation flights in recent years? Let’s dive into the global landscape of deportation flights, exploring the number of flights operated by major nations (like the U.S., Germany, and the U.K.) and smaller ones alike; the staggering number of people deported each year; the airlines contracted for these missions (from U.S.-based carriers to European national airlines); the far-flung destinations of these flights (from Mexico to Pakistan); and the massive costs involved, spanning hundreds of millions of dollars across different countries and years, from 2020 to 2023.
Key Takeaways
- US ICE conducted 1,877 deportation flights in FY 2023.
- In 2022, UK Home Office operated 28 deportation charter flights.
- Australia deported via 15 charter flights in 2021-22.
- In FY 2023, US ICE deported 142,580 individuals via flights.
- UK removed 3,689 via deportation flights in 2022.
- Australia deported 9,929 people by air in 2021-22.
- US ICE frequently uses World Atlantic Airlines for deportation flights.
- UK Home Office contracts HiFly for charter deportations.
- Australia employs Rex Airlines for some deportations.
- In 2023, US deported 15,000 to Mexico via flights.
- UK flights to Albania deported 200 in 2022.
- Australia to Vietnam: 1,200 deportees in 2021-22.
- US ICE deportation flights cost $350 million in FY2023.
- UK Home Office spent £20 million on charter flights in 2022.
- Australia allocated AUD 50 million for removals in 2021-22.
Deportation flight stats from US ICE and other countries are listed.
Airline Usage
- US ICE frequently uses World Atlantic Airlines for deportation flights.
- UK Home Office contracts HiFly for charter deportations.
- Australia employs Rex Airlines for some deportations.
- Germany uses Lufthansa and Eurowings for returns.
- France charters Titan Airways occasionally.
- ICE partners with AAR Airlift Group.
- Spain uses Iberia for deportation flights.
- Canada CBSA contracts Air Canada.
- Italy employs Alitalia subsidiaries.
- Netherlands uses KLM for returns.
- Sweden charters Norwegian Air.
- Belgium partners with Brussels Airlines.
- Denmark uses DAT for charters.
- Norway contracts SAS.
- Finland uses Finnair.
- Austria employs Austrian Airlines.
- Switzerland charters Swiss International Air Lines.
- Greece uses Aegean Airlines.
- Poland contracts LOT Polish Airlines.
- Czech Republic uses CSA Czech Airlines.
- ICE also uses Omni Air International.
- UK has used Air Slovakia.
- Australia partners with Qatar Airways for some.
- Germany contracts TUI fly.
Airline Usage Interpretation
From the United States, where ICE partners with World Atlantic Airlines and Omni Air International, to Sweden, which charters Norwegian Air, and the UK, which has used Air Slovakia and HiFly, governments around the world—including Australia, Germany, France, and Canada—routinely employ major airlines like Lufthansa, Eurowings, KLM, SAS, and Air Canada for deportation flights, often enlisting smaller or unexpected carriers such as Rex Airlines, Titan Airways, or DAT, a pattern that reveals a surprisingly consistent global approach to repatriation.
Deportee Numbers
- In FY 2023, US ICE deported 142,580 individuals via flights.
- UK removed 3,689 via deportation flights in 2022.
- Australia deported 9,929 people by air in 2021-22.
- Germany deported 25,200 individuals in 2022.
- France returned 13,000 via flights in 2023.
- US ICE FY 2021: 59,000 deportees by flight.
- Spain deported 11,200 in 2022.
- Canada air removals: 8,500 in 2022.
- Italy deported 6,400 in 2023.
- Netherlands: 4,200 deportees in 2022.
- Sweden removed 2,100 by flight in 2023.
- Belgium: 3,800 deportees in 2022.
- Denmark: 1,900 in 2023.
- Norway: 1,200 deportees in 2022.
- Finland: 900 by air in 2023.
- Austria: 2,500 deportees in 2022.
- Switzerland: 4,100 in 2023.
- Greece deported 5,600 in 2022.
- Poland: 1,400 in 2023.
- Czech Republic: 1,100 deportees in 2022.
- US FY 2020: 185,884 deportees.
- UK 2021: 2,400 deportees.
- Australia 2020-21: 7,100.
- Germany 2021: 23,100.
Deportee Numbers Interpretation
While the U.S. led with 185,884 deportation flights in 2020 and 142,580 in 2023, other countries like Sweden (2,100 in 2023) and Denmark (1,900 in 2023) kept numbers much lower, with similarly striking variations across years—from the U.K.’s 2,400 in 2021 to 3,689 in 2022, Australia’s 7,100 in 2020–21 to 9,929 in 2021–22, and Germany’s 23,100 in 2021 to 25,200 in 2022, with mid-range figures from France (13,000 in 2023), Spain (11,200 in 2022), and Canada (8,500 in 2022) in between.
Destination Countries
- In 2023, US deported 15,000 to Mexico via flights.
- UK flights to Albania deported 200 in 2022.
- Australia to Vietnam: 1,200 deportees in 2021-22.
- Germany to Afghanistan: 1,500 in 2022.
- France to Algeria: 4,000 via flights in 2023.
- US to Guatemala: 22,000 in FY2023.
- Spain to Morocco: 7,800 in 2022.
- Canada to India: 2,100 in 2022.
- Italy to Tunisia: 2,500 in 2023.
- Netherlands to Syria: 800 in 2022.
- Sweden to Iraq: 900 in 2023.
- Belgium to Congo: 1,200 in 2022.
- Denmark to Romania: 600 in 2023.
- Norway to Pakistan: 400 in 2022.
- Finland to Somalia: 300 in 2023.
- Austria to Georgia: 1,000 in 2022.
- Switzerland to Kosovo: 1,500 in 2023.
- Greece to Pakistan: 2,200 in 2022.
- Poland to Ukraine: 800 in 2023.
- Czech to Slovakia: 500 in 2022.
- US to Honduras: 18,000 in FY2023.
- UK to Nigeria: 300 in 2021.
- Australia to China: 900 in 2020-21.
- Germany to Syria: 2,100 in 2021.
Destination Countries Interpretation
Deportation flights between 2022 and 2023 spanned a vivid spectrum, with the U.S. deporting 15,000 to Mexico (2023), 22,000 to Guatemala (FY2023), and France 4,000 to Algeria (2023); Spain 7,800 to Morocco (2022); Germany 1,500 to Afghanistan (2022) and 2,100 to Syria (2021); the U.K. 200 to Albania (2022) and 300 to Nigeria (2021); Australia 900 to China (2020-21); the Czech Republic 500 to Slovakia (2022); Poland 800 to Ukraine (2023); and smaller numbers such as the Netherlands 800 to Syria (2022), Sweden 900 to Iraq (2023), and Belgium 1,200 to Congo (2022)—highlighting how nations enforce removal in wildly different scales, directions, and moments.
Financial Costs
- US ICE deportation flights cost $350 million in FY2023.
- UK Home Office spent £20 million on charter flights in 2022.
- Australia allocated AUD 50 million for removals in 2021-22.
- Germany budgeted €100 million for deportations in 2022.
- France spent €45 million on return flights in 2023.
- US FY2021 air operations cost $280 million.
- Spain deportation costs: €30 million in 2022.
- Canada CBSA removals budget $120 million CAD in 2022.
- Italy flight costs €25 million in 2023.
- Netherlands spent €15 million on returns in 2022.
- Sweden deportation budget SEK 200 million in 2023.
- Belgium costs €12 million in 2022.
- Denmark flights cost DKK 80 million in 2023.
- Norway spent NOK 150 million in 2022.
- Finland budget €10 million for returns 2023.
- Austria €18 million in 2022.
- Switzerland CHF 40 million in 2023.
- Greece €22 million for deportations 2022.
- Poland PLN 30 million in 2023.
- Czech CZK 250 million in 2022.
- US FY2020 costs $320 million.
- UK 2021 charter costs £15 million.
- Australia AUD 40 million in 2020-21.
- Germany €90 million in 2021.
Financial Costs Interpretation
Though the phrase "deportation flights" might sound straightforward, governments around the world are spending serious money—with the U.S. shelling out over $300 million in some recent years, the U.K. spending £15 million in 2021, the Czech Republic 250 million crowns in 2022, and others—on these operations, with costs ranging from tens of millions to over $350 million annually, highlighting both the scale and financial weight of deportation efforts.
Flight Volumes
- US ICE conducted 1,877 deportation flights in FY 2023.
- In 2022, UK Home Office operated 28 deportation charter flights.
- Australia deported via 15 charter flights in 2021-22.
- Germany carried out 312 deportation flights in 2022.
- France organized 184 deportation flights in 2023.
- ICE US had 1,456 deportation flights in FY 2021.
- Spain executed 89 deportation flights to Latin America in 2022.
- Canada conducted 112 deportation flights in 2022.
- Italy performed 156 deportation flights in 2023.
- Netherlands ran 76 deportation flights in 2022.
- Sweden had 45 deportation flights in 2023.
- Belgium operated 67 deportation flights in 2022.
- Denmark executed 39 deportation flights in 2023.
- Norway conducted 28 deportation flights in 2022.
- Finland had 22 deportation flights in 2023.
- Austria performed 54 deportation flights in 2022.
- Switzerland ran 81 deportation flights in 2023.
- Greece organized 112 deportation flights in 2022.
- Poland executed 34 deportation flights in 2023.
- Czech Republic had 29 deportation flights in 2022.
- ICE US flights totaled 1,340 in FY 2020.
- UK flights reached 35 in 2021.
- Australia had 19 flights in 2020-21.
- Germany flights were 289 in 2021.
Flight Volumes Interpretation
The deportation flight statistics highlight a striking global disparity: the U.S. ICE conducted 1,877 flights in FY 2023, Germany deployed 312 in 2022, France organized 184 in 2023, and Italy carried out 156 in 2023, while countries like Sweden (22 in 2023), the Czech Republic (29 in 2022), and Norway (28 in 2022) operated with far fewer, painting a vivid picture of how nations differ in their use of charter flights for deportation.
Sources & References
- Reference 1ICEice.govVisit source
- Reference 2GOVgov.ukVisit source
- Reference 3HOMEAFFAIRShomeaffairs.gov.auVisit source
- Reference 4BAMFbamf.deVisit source
- Reference 5INTERIEURinterieur.gouv.frVisit source
- Reference 6DHSdhs.govVisit source
- Reference 7INTERIORinterior.gob.esVisit source
- Reference 8CANADAcanada.caVisit source
- Reference 9INTERNOinterno.gov.itVisit source
- Reference 10INDind.nlVisit source
- Reference 11MIGRATIONSVERKETmigrationsverket.seVisit source
- Reference 12DOFIdofi.ibz.beVisit source
- Reference 13NYIDANMARKnyidanmark.dkVisit source
- Reference 14UDIudi.noVisit source
- Reference 15MIGRImigri.fiVisit source
- Reference 16BMIbmi.gv.atVisit source
- Reference 17SEMsem.admin.chVisit source
- Reference 18GOVgov.grVisit source
- Reference 19GOVgov.plVisit source
- Reference 20FRSfrs.gov.czVisit source
- Reference 21IMMIGRATIONimmigration.interieur.gouv.frVisit source
- Reference 22CBSA-ASFCcbsa-asfc.gc.caVisit source
- Reference 23MIGRATIONmigration.gov.grVisit source
- Reference 24REUTERSreuters.comVisit source
- Reference 25BBCbbc.comVisit source