From the department for transport website
Transport Secretary Chris Grayling commissioned the extraordinary operation to return passengers who would otherwise have been left stranded by a lack of capacity in the aviation market to deal with such a significant demand.
The response means the government has agreed that passengers will not be charged for repatriation flights. Work is underway to recoup costs from the ATOL scheme and card providers.
My interpretation of this is that it is taxpayers money being used, hence no johnny forriners being sent sausage side, and the money will come from the ATOL fund for those with a certifcate and the credit cards for everyone else.