The first scheduled flight of 2026 to return asylum seekers who arrived in the UK via small boats to France has been cancelled at the last minute, the Guardian has learned.
Detainees Left in Limbo
Individuals detained under the government's 'one in, one out' scheme and held at the Harmondsworth immigration removal centre near Heathrow Airport were told their tickets for a Wednesday morning flight to Paris had been cancelled. One detainee, who was among those set to be removed, expressed confusion and a sense of injustice. "I came on a boat with 80 people onboard," he said. "Ten of us were detained and 70 were taken to hotels because their asylum claims will be processed here. That's not fair." He added that staff at the centre provided no reason for the sudden cancellation.
Report Highlights 'Arbitrary and Discriminatory' Detention
The flight's cancellation follows the circulation of a report compiled by 80 detainees held at Harmondsworth under the same scheme. The document, issued on Monday, raises significant concerns about the policy's implementation. Detainees argue that while the majority of small boat arrivals have their asylum claims processed within the UK, a minority are singled out for detention and removal to France. The report states the men view their detention as "arbitrary and discriminatory." It further declares: "We are not criminals. We are people who fled war, persecution, and injustice. We came to the UK believing in human rights, freedom, and protection. Instead, we are detained, isolated, and silenced."
Operational Costs and Silence
While this is understood to be the first cancellation of a 'one in, one out' charter flight to Paris, it is not believed to be the result of a legal challenge. Such last-minute cancellations can carry heavy financial penalties. If the Home Office cancels a chartered deportation flight shortly before departure, it may face compensation costs running into tens of thousands of pounds payable to the aircraft leasing company. Sources familiar with Home Office deportation operations indicate the average cost of a single deportation charter flight is approximately £250,000. Previous data obtained via Freedom of Information requests showed the average cost in 2022 was £180,000, though this varies based on aircraft type and destination. A Home Office spokesperson declined to comment on the specific incident, stating: "It's a longstanding government policy to not comment on operational matters."
