The birth year of Soviet civil aviation is considered to be 1923, when ‘Dobrolet’ (‘Good Flight’), the Russian Voluntary Air Fleet Society, was established. And, already in 1932, the now famous ‘Aeroflot’ was created on its basis. It was the main and the only airline of the Soviet Union.
The range of services and opportunities for Soviet passengers on board was much greater than it is now. Below we’ve listed what you could do in the last century, which is now remembered with nostalgia. Smoking on board Passenger cabin of Tu-134 airplane, 1964.
In the Soviet years, just like on most other international airlines, it was possible to smoke during the flight. Smoking section seats were usually located in the rear. In the mid-1980s, smoking was banned on flights shorter than three hours.
Today, as you know, smoking is completely banned on all commercial flights worldwide, not even electronic cigarettes or vape accessories. Dining in economy like first class Service on board the IL-62 airplane, 1980. Service classes varied, as they do today, but all passengers had a hot meal included in their ticket when flying for more than two hours.
The menu was especially refined on international flights, where red and black caviar was typically offered, including in economy class. Meals on airplanes was invented back in the 1930s. One of the first Soviet airplanes, the ANT-20 ‘Maxim Gorky’, had a bar where you could buy light snacks, aperitifs and fruit.
A woman and child on b.