Part 3/7:
While working on a larger project focused on the costs associated with repatriating approximately 11 million illegal immigrants, comparative analysis started to take shape. A C-17, capable of carrying 134 detainees, charges about $30,378 in operating costs per hour, as noted in a report from the Government Accountability Office. This gives a ballpark figure of approximately $226.10 per person per hour during the flight.
In contrast, the cost to charter a Boeing 737-700, which can accommodate more passengers at about 149 per flight, sits at approximately $21,050 per hour. This translates to a lower cost per passenger of roughly $141.25, significantly less than the costs associated with military transport.