At Toronto Pearson International Airport, a heavy An-124 "Ruslan" transport aircraft with Russian registration markings has remained parked for almost four years. During that time, the aircraft has accumulated more than 1.5 million Canadian dollars in parking debt — about 1.1 million US dollars.
How the Russian An-124 ended up in Toronto
As a reminder, the "Ruslan" arrived in Toronto in February 2022. The An-124 was operating a commercial flight and delivering medical equipment to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
After unloading, the crew planned a return departure, but those plans fell through after sanctions against Russia were introduced.
Restrictions closed off the aircraft's path home
Canada closed its airspace to Russian airlines. The authorities refused to issue permission for departure, while restrictions on the supply of spare parts and technical maintenance complicated the aircraft's further operation. As a result, the An-124 remained parked 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 no final decision has yet been made.
How the multimillion-dollar "parking" debt grew
While the court proceedings continue, the administration of Pearson Airport keeps charging fees for parking, security, and site maintenance. These expenses have created one of the largest aircraft parking debt totals in the history of civil aviation.
What is happening to the aircraft after four years of downtime
Long-term storage without full maintenance accelerates wear on the systems and reduces the aircraft's residual value. Unfortunately, the press service of the airline Volga-Dnepr did not respond to an inquiry from "Pervogo tekhnicheskogo" about the condition of the aircraft.