A heavy transport aircraft An-124 "Ruslan" with Russian registration marks has been parked at Pearson International Airport in Toronto for almost four years. During this time, the aircraft has accumulated a debt of more than 1.5 million Canadian dollars for parking - about 1.1 million US dollars.
How the Russian An-124 Ended Up in Toronto
As a reminder, "Ruslan" arrived in Toronto in February 2022. The An-124 was performing a commercial flight and delivering medical equipment to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
After unloading, the crew planned a return flight, however, the plans were disrupted after the introduction of sanctions against Russia.
Restrictions Closed the Plane's Way Home
Canada closed its airspace to Russian airlines. The authorities refused to issue a flight permit, and restrictions on the supply of spare parts and maintenance complicated further operation of the aircraft. As a result, the An-124 remained in the parking lot without the possibility of leaving the country.
Why They Want to Confiscate the An-124
In 2023, the Canadian government announced its intention to confiscate the An-124 as part of its sanctions policy. But the legal procedures have dragged on, and a final decision has not yet been made.
How the "Parking" Debt Grew to Millions
While the legal proceedings are ongoing, the administration of Pearson Airport continues to charge for parking, security, and maintenance of the territory. These expenses have formed one of the largest amounts of debt for parking an aircraft in the history of civil aviation.
What Happens to the Plane After Four Years of Downtime
Long-term storage without full maintenance accelerates the wear and tear of systems and reduces the residual value of the aircraft. Unfortunately, the press service of Volga-Dnepr Airlines did not respond to a request from "Первый технический" about the condition of the aircraft.