Travel: Departures: Russian roulette
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.WHEN Russian airline pilots threaten strike action in protest against poor safety standards in the former Soviet Union, as they did this week, even the most devil-may-care traveller to the old USSR should take evasive action.
The single most effective way to increase life-expectancy is to avoid domestic flights. When the Soviet Union broke up, the massive bureaucracy, Aeroflot, splintered into 150 new carriers. Many of them have become accidents waiting to happen, with dreadful aircraft, poor maintenance and overcrowding. However, connections in western Europe can provide good links with former Soviet territory. Austrian Airlines serves Kiev and Odessa via Vienna, while Lufthansa goes via Frankfurt to Novosibirsk, deep inside Siberia.
Most implausible of all the new services into the old USSR is the twice- weekly flight between Belfast and the Latvian capital, Riga. Regent Holidays (0272 211711) can sell you a return ticket on this American TransAir service for pounds 229.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments