The federal government’s push to run its own deportation airline is well behind schedule. Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin said in mid-May that the Department of Homeland Security expected to fold its new fleet into removal flights “in the coming weeks,” yet the roughly 10 aircraft the department bought early this year had spent much of 2026 parked at a maintenance facility in Louisiana, according to a person familiar with the matter and public flight-tracking data cited by CNN. None had carried a single deportee.

The plan began under Mullin’s predecessor, Kristi Noem. For decades, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the agency inside DHS that handles removals, had leaned on charter operators to fly people out of the country. Noem’s team wanted to own the planes instead, a shift meant to help deliver President Donald Trump‘s goal of deporting 1 million people a year. DHS signed a contract worth nearly $140 million with Daedalus Aviation to buy up to six Boeing 737s, funded from the roughly $170 billion Congress approved over four years for immigration enforcement in last year’s tax-and-spending law.

A Fleet Waiting to Fly

The fleet grew to eight 737s and two Gulfstream jets. William Walters, chief executive of Daedalus Aviation, told CNN the aircraft were sold at cost plus overhead, including the expense of converting passenger aircraft for deportation operations. Neither Walters nor DHS disclosed a detailed cost breakdown.

When Markwayne Mullin became Homeland Security secretary, he ordered a review of contracts executed under the prior administration. DHS said the aircraft have been undergoing maintenance, safety inspections and operational modifications before entering service. Several of the planes were also used during evacuation missions tied to the conflict involving Iran, though they have not yet been deployed for deportation flights.

The Real Cost Comes After the Purchase

Industry experts say purchasing aircraft is only the first step.

Operating an airline requires ongoing spending for pilots, maintenance, insurance, fuel, flight crews and regulatory compliance. Former ICE officials told CNN that sustaining a government-owned fleet presents significant long-term operational challenges beyond the initial acquisition cost.

At least initially, DHS plans to rely on commercial operators to fly the aircraft, but charter companies must still receive regulatory approvals and train crews to operate the newly acquired Boeing 737 fleet before regular operations can begin.

Can It Save Taxpayers Money?

DHS has argued that operating its own fleet could eventually reduce deportation costs by as much as $280 million through more efficient scheduling and reduced reliance on outside charter companies.

According to ICE figures, charter deportation flights currently cost between approximately $7,000 and $27,000 per flight hour, depending on aircraft type and mission requirements. Officials argue that eliminating multiple layers of subcontracting could reduce long-term operating expenses.

For now, however, deportation flights continue to rely largely on private charter operators while the government-owned fleet awaits full deployment.

Removal Flights Continue to Increase

Despite delays involving the government fleet, deportation activity continues to rise.

Human Rights First, which tracks removal flights, reported 245 deportation flights during one recent month—the highest monthly total since the organization began monitoring flights in 2020.

Whether DHS ultimately achieves the projected savings will depend on how efficiently the government can operate and maintain its own aircraft over the long term. Until the fleet begins regular operations, the anticipated financial benefits remain projections rather than demonstrated results.

JBizNews Desk | Washington
© JBizNews.com All Rights Reserved. Reproduction or distribution without written permission is prohibited.