I had read in an English language newspaper in Murmansk in Feb 2001 that this route was to be equipped with new B737-400s by April 2001. Sadly no. The Tu154M smells of oil and fumes. I managed to avoid vomiting and once airborne hardly noticed the smell.

The toilets should be avoided - it smells like everyone else has avoided them as well.

We had the safety brief by tannoy, but with no demonstration. As I was sitting next to the emergency exit I didn't care. A note - the emergency exit rows are not wider as on many other aircraft. In fact you are crammed in like sardines. I have never seen such a small seat pitch. You are so tight that the cabin crew have to wake up the person in front and tell them to sit up before they are able to pass a meal out to you.

A 2 hour flight - dead on time.