Russian aircraft stranded in Canada racks up $100,000 airport parking charge
Airport parking charges can usually really feel steep, But one aircraft’s present invoice would possibly make even probably the most hardened traveller’s eyes water.
An enormous cargo aircraft caught at a Canadian airport has at present racked up parking charges of greater than C$100,000 (£64,000).
The Antonov AN-124 jet, owned by Volga-Dneper and registered as RA-82078, has been stranded at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport since 27 February.
In a case of “wrong place, wrong time”, the plane occurred to be on the airport after delivering a cargo of fast Covid assessments when Canada launched a ban on all Russian-owned or registered planes utilizing its airspace.
It meant the aircraft was prohibited from taking off once more, as that will contain mechanically passing via Canadian airspace.
Since then, the jet has been issued a parking positive of $C1065.60 (£678) every day. It has now been caught for round 100 days.
“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 instructed CBC.
“The latter remains in place, and there are no plans to make revisions or change it at this time.”
Widespread airspace bans of Russian plane have been launched following the nation’s invasion of Ukraine.
Russia retaliated by banning different nations’ planes in response, resulting in some uncommon flight paths.
Having quickly pressed pause on its Tokyo-Helsinki route throughout the battle, Finnair resumed the hyperlink on 9 March – however flights became four hours longer to keep away from Russian airspace.
Forced to fly both north or south of Russia, relying on wind, the flight now takes round 13 hours.
“Japan is one of our most important markets, and we want to continue offering safe and reliable connections between Helsinki and Tokyo,” mentioned Finnair’s chief business officer, Ole Orvér, of the choice to create a brand new flight path.
“Japan is also an important cargo market, and air connections are needed to keep cargo moving.”
