By Skies Magazine | April 17, 2023 Estimated reading time 3 minutes, 12 seconds.
After being stuck at Toronto Pearson Airport for over a year, an Antonov An-124 aircraft — owned by Russian cargo firm Volga-Dnepr — is to be confiscated and transferred to Ukraine as part of a new package of sanctions against Russia from Canada, which target Volga-Dnepr in particular.
Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal shared the news in a Facebook update on April 16, following meetings with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland.
The An-124 has been parked at Pearson airport and unable to leave since it arrived in Canada on Feb. 27, 2022, from Khabarovsk, Russia, via Anchorage, Alaska, to deliver a shipment of Covid-19 rapid tests. The same day the plane arrived, Canada’s Transport Minister, Omar Alghabra, closed Canadian airspace to Russian-owned, chartered, or operated aircraft. This was in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. The war is ongoing.
Several countries have since imposed sanctions against Russia, with many targeting the country’s aviation sector. In addition to Russian-registered aircraft being unable to use Canadian, U.S., and European airspace, the sanctions have resulted in lease cancelations and major airframe OEMs halting the supply of parts and support for Russian airlines.
Currently, four An-124s belonging to Volga-Dnepr — which owns Volga-Dnepr Airlines — are stuck in other countries, including the aircraft grounded in Canada. The four-engine Antonov plane at Pearson is one of several seized Russian assets that is to be transferred to Ukraine to bolster the country’s defense.
That aircraft in particular has accrued a hefty parking bill since last February. The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA) said the aeronautical fees for the parked An-124 are $1,065.60 for each 24-hour period — which includes general terminal charges, apron fees, etc. While the plane has been parked at Pearson for over 400 days, that translates to roughly $442,000, excluding HST.
This is a developing story.
This is a really stupid thing to do, given that the EU has found that there is no right to confiscate russian assets.
Furthermore, the assets would have to be returned to the original owner.
Finally, note that the cargo plane had just transported COVID vaccines from China to the Government of Canada.
When it is all said and done, and this works through the court system, it will be the Canadian taxpayers that have to cough up the damages.
And right on cue, Russian influence is all over the comments. How’s the taste of Putin’s boot?
Fascinating. The plane brings us rapid tests that we desperately need and the government closes the skies AFTER the plane lands in Toronto. This is piracy on a government level.
Somalia , African governments do that
piracies so why not Canada?
Communism is the same like world order?
Why Canada have new food stamps rebates (food inflation rebate )
So what? Do you not think that was a standard business transaction? The test were paid for. They could have come on a Chinese 777 for all it mattered. The fact is, legally, the plane has unpaid fees and is now considered abandoned. Suck it up buttercup, maybe they shouldn’t of invaded another sovereign country.
What is to prevent Russia from intercepting a Canadian plane in international airspace and seizing it in compensation? This is s seriously idiotic move. Canada has no legal right to seize Russian private property.
With what airplane and whose airspace are they going to intercept Canadian flights?
There should be a pause and let the owner get back their planes for good intentions. For delivering covid aid test to Canada or Canada will become rotten.
This is a terrible decision. It is purely politically motivated and has no basis in law.
I hope Russia starts assassinating our politicians.
That would be awesome.
Canada needs to take high ground and rule of law. This is what we are defending in Ukraine.