Russian plane stranded in Canada since war began racks up huge £63k parking fee

dailystar.co.uk:

Russia Ukraine war broke out has racked up parking fees of more than $100,000 (£63,600). The aircraft has been prohibited to fly due to Canada's closure of its airspace to all Russian aircraft in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Now the Russian-registered Antonov AN-124 jet has been stranded at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport since February 27, which has seen 100 days of parking fees, of more than $1,000 (£636) bringing it to its eye-watering total, with no easing of restrictions in sight.The cargo carrier, owned by Volga-Dneper, has remained at the airport since the day it arrived in Canada from Anchorage, Alaska, to deliver a shipment of COVID-19 rapid tests.That was the same day that Transport Minister Omar Alghabra announced the closing of Canada's airspace to all Russian aircraft in response to Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine.The Volga-Dnepr plane has been banned from departing ever since as it would involve automatically passing through Canadian airspace. “The aircraft is unable to depart in Canadian territorial airspace as it would be in violation of the NOTAM [Notice to Airmen],” a Transport Canada spokesperson told CBC . “The latter remains in place, and there are no plans to make revisions or change it at this time.” To stay up to date with all the latest news, make sure you sign up to one of our newsletters here . In an email, Toronto Pearson spokesperson said the aircraft is currently stored in a "secure location" at the airport.She said the stranded plane is subject to the airport's standard aircraft parking rates, which amount to $1,065.60 per day, for as long as it remains on the property.The plane stranded at Pearson is currently the only plane in Canada affected by the federal.