A Russian plane stuck at Toronto Pearson Airport for months is racking up major fines

In March, we reported about a Russian plane that had been stuck at Toronto Pearson Airport for three weeks. It’s now been three months and the cargo plane is racking up major fines.

According to a Toronto Pearson Airport spokesperson, “the cost works out to $1,065.60 for each 24-hour period.”

And you thought Toronto parking fees were bad.

Russian registered Antonov An124 is now parked on Taxiway N in Toronto. It will sit here indefinitely. They planned a departure this morning,since cancelled.Arrived on Sunday from China via Russia & Anchorage. Russian aircraft are banned in Canadian airspace.
Volga-Dnepr RA-82078 https://t.co/OGXNFInAQU pic.twitter.com/3rfxhRDUs5

— Tom Podolec Aviation (@TomPodolec) February 28, 2022

The plane landed on February 27 — the same day that Omar Alghabra, Transport Minister of Canada, had announced on Twitter that Canada’s airspace would be closed to all Russian aircraft operators.

Alghabra tweeted, “Effective immediately, Canada’s airspace is closed to all Russian aircraft operators. We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks against Ukraine.”

Effective immediately, Canada’s airspace is closed to all Russian aircraft operators. We will hold Russia accountable for its unprovoked attacks against Ukraine.

— Omar Alghabra (@OmarAlghabra) February 27, 2022

“Due to the Government of Canada closing Canadian airspace to Russian aircraft operators, there is currently one aircraft at Pearson that is prohibited from departing,” a Toronto Pearson spokesperson had told Daily Hive.

You might also like:
• Up in the air: Fate of Russian plane uncertain after being grounded at Toronto airport for weeks
• Leaders want to end "obsolete" COVID-19 protocols at Toronto Pearson Airport
• TikTok video shows chaos at Toronto Pearson baggage claim

It seems that the plane’s fate remains uncertain since an exemption appears unlikely anytime soon. A representative for Transport Canada stated that the aircraft cannot depart as it would violate the Notice to Airmen (NOTAM).

“The NOTAM remains in place,” they stated. “And there are no plans to make revisions or change the NOTAM at this time.”