UK Border Agency 'wastes millions' on half-empty flights chartered to deport illegal immigrants Figures disclosed under freedom of information rules showed that the UK Border Agency spent £8.67 million on 37 flights to Afghanistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Ghana, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo in the past year. It suggests that at just 47% capacity, the empty seats cost the taxpayer around £860,000 on these seven flights, although the full figure on all 37 is likely to be more than £4 million. Robert Oxley, a campaign manager for the Taxpayers' Alliance, said: "It beggars belief that the UKBA is chartering half empty planes when budgets are tight. The empty seats are costing taxpayers' money and are a symptom of a system in crisis. Those meant to be on the flights, but who aren't, will have to flown out later costing taxpayers even more down the line. The UKBA said that in the past year the only countries in which charter flights were used to "enforce removals" were the seven mentioned above - Afghanistan, Nigeria, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Ghana, Pakistan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It said there were 17 charter flights to Afghanistan, nine to Nigeria, four to Sri Lanka, three to Pakistan, two to Ghana, and one each to Iraq and the Democratic Republic of Congo. A spokesman said: "It is right that those with no right to be here should go home and flights of this type still represent the most cost effective way of removing people."