http://www.tobacco.org/newsfeed/category/air_travel.rss Latest top tobacco news headlines en-us http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/features/2009/1118/1224259040621.html http://tobacco.org/news/293032.html Need a nicotine hit? Want to beat the smoking ban? A smokeless cigarette could be the answer, for the long - or short - haul. Just be prepared for some funny looks, writes ROSEMARY Mac CABE . . . Ryanair now sells the other most popular type, in the form of Similar smokeless cigarettes. Ryanair's head of communications, Stephen McNamara, says the product was introduced due to customer demand. "Some passengers can find it stressful to spend long journeys without a cigarette so we introduced the product based on customer feedback and to cater to passenger demand. It seemed a logical step to introduce a product that could provide smokers with relief from nicotine withdrawal. . . . I spent a day with Ryanair's Similar branded smokeless cigarettes: a packet of 10, purchased for €6 on board a Ryanair flight, to see how it feels to smoke on the right side of the law. The first thing I notice is that they smell, to all intents and purposes, like what one's mother might call "sucky sweets" - irrefutably better than mainstream cigarettes, albeit slightly strange. They feel like real cigarettes and, crucially, they look like them. . . . Smoking a cigarette that looks like a cigarette, acts like a cigarette but neither tastes nor feels like a cigarette (while giving you more nicotine than a cigarette) seems an odd choice. Irish Times rmaccabe@irishtimes.com (ROSEMARY Mac CABE) Ireland Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.news-press.com/article/20091110/NEWS01/911100362/1002/Airport-s-smoking-ban-could-go-outside http://tobacco.org/news/292511.html It's OK to smoke outside Southwest Florida International's passenger terminal, but that could change. Lee County commissioners directed airport staff Monday to study prohibiting smoking on the grounds of the airport and at the Page Field general aviation facility. A ban would apply to both airport workers and members of the public. Smoking already is prohibited indoors at county airports. Airport director Bob Ball said staff would have to study how to police the situation and also janitorial issues if, for example, they removed the ash receptacles. Commissioner Frank Mann broached the topic Monday, calling second-hand smoke a "health issue" for airport visitors and for the people who work there. Ft. Myers News-Press lruane@news-press.com (LAURA RUANE) Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_452227.html http://tobacco.org/news/292506.html CHANGI Airport has put its weight behind a global airports group opposing a World Health Organisation (WHO) proposal to ban the sale of duty-free tobacco products on airport premises. The Airports Council International (ACI), which groups 1,679 airports worldwide, including Changi, maintains that this move will hurt airport earnings, as well as penalise the travelling public. The issue surfaced at the group's annual meeting recently, in response to suggestions made by the WHO that such a ban would stem the illegal trade in tobacco products. Member airports agree that they will not stand for such a ban and will work with their respective governments to protect the interests of passengers and the rights of airports and retailers. This was one of several resolutions approved at the end of the ACI's two-day gathering in Kuala Lumpur last week. Straits Times Singapore Mon, 09 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.winknews.com/news/local/69696362.html http://tobacco.org/news/292447.html It's a proposal that has some smokers fuming. Lee County Commissioners want Southwest Florida International Airport to consider a ban on smoking outside. "We are going to do a complete study," Airport PR director Vicki Moreland said. "We'll take to other Florida airports, other airports throughout the nation as to how they handle smoking outside the terminal areas for their passengers and employees." Moreland says they're looking at the entire issue so they can reach a happy medium for the airport's 4,000 employees and 8 million annual passengers. "We don't want smoke around customers that don't want to have smoking, around children, or people with allergies," Moreland said. It's a growing trend. Starting November 19th, Lee Memorial Health System will also ban the use of tobacco products, inside or outside. WINK-TV Channel 5 Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.marconews.com/news/2009/nov/10/clean-air-ahead-southwest-florida-international-ai/ http://tobacco.org/news/292446.html Smoke clouds may vanish outside airport terminals in Lee County. County Commissioner Frank Mann proposed on Monday a full smoking ban at Southwest Florida International Airport and Page Field General Aviation Airport. A ban couldn't come soon enough, he said, but he's hopeful a vote can be held next month when the Board of Port Commissioners meets again. "I don't want any place (at the airports) where you can go and smoke," Mann said. Marco Island Eagle Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.wcnc.com/news/local/stories/wcnc-110209-sjf-airportsmoking.27a4772d2.html?npc http://tobacco.org/news/292058.html An investigation by the Newschannel 36 I-Team reveals a burning controversy at Charlotte-Douglas International Airport. It's no secret that after a long flight, smokers are looking for a place to light up. But at the same time, non-smokers want the smoke kept away from them. On three separate trips to the airport, our cameras watched as travelers lit up in areas that were off limits. It was not an isolated problem. Our I-Team saw smokers over and over and over again, all breaking the rules in the most public of places. There are signs posted outside -- on the curb, on walls, and on the ceiling -- all warning people of no-smoking areas, and directing smokers to the courtesy smoking points. Yet we found smokers disregarding those signs time after time. "When you're waiting for a ride to pick you up and you have no choice but to stand outside, you're stuck there with the smokers," said Monica Godshall, a frequent traveler who tipped off NewsChannel 36 to the problem. During our investigation, we saw people smoking in front of children and in crowded areas. And it's not just travelers. We saw workers breaking the rules, too. We took the problem to Charlotte-Douglas International Airport Aviation Director Jerry Orr. He told us the airport is aware of the problem, and they frequently get complaints from people on both sides of the issue. NBC6  WCNC-TV jcampbell@wcnc.com (JEFF CAMPBELL / NewsChannel 36) Mon, 02 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT http://www.luchtzak.be/forums/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=40644&sid=55d11d12e8b2bf7e214501b91cb5a16a http://tobacco.org/news/292043.html At Brussels Airport a general non-smoking policy is applicable. Not only the departing passenger but also the growing number of transfer passengers requested the possibility to smoke. As from December 2009 an exception will be applied to the non-smoking policy. A new, first, smokers room will be opened halfway Concourse B, located next to the Bar (at gate B17). Luchtzak Aviation Belgium Thu, 29 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://home.nzcity.co.nz/news/article.aspx?id=106551&fm=newsmain,nrhl http://tobacco.org/news/291686.html Rhys Ifans caused a mid-air panic by appearing to smoke a cigarette on a plane. The 'Notting Hill' actor was jetting from London to Los Angeles when he began puffing on the white stick - smoking on planes is banned - causing furious passengers to complain to staff on the Virgin Atlantic flight. The 41-year-old star caused further concern when he twisted the cigarette around and pressed the burning red ember into his lip - until staff realised it was a fake cigarette. Rhys was using a SmokeStik, a new invention which allows smokers to get their nicotine hit without having to puff on a cigarette. The version Rhys was using, the SmokeStik Royale, was designed by socialite Lady Victoria Hervey and features her family's crest. NZCity New Zealand Tue, 27 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/news/article_1507428.php/Rhys-Ifans-sparks-smoking-scare http://tobacco.org/news/291306.html Rhys Ifans caused a mid-air panic by appearing to smoke a cigarette on a plane. The 'Notting Hill' actor was jetting from London to Los Angeles when he began puffing on the white stick - smoking on planes is banned - causing furious passengers to complain to staff on the Virgin Atlantic flight. The 41-year-old star caused further concern when he twisted the cigarette around and pressed the burning red ember into his lip - until staff realised it was a fake cigarette. Rhys was using a SmokeStik, a new invention which allows smokers to get their nicotine hit without having to puff on a cigarette. The version Rhys was using, the SmokeStik Royale, was designed by socialite Lady Victoria Hervey and features her family's crest. Monsters and Critics Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.saudigazette.com.sa/index.cfm?method=home.regcon&contentID=2009101251293 http://tobacco.org/news/291015.html The Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs in Hail is considering banning the sale of tobacco products at food stores in residential areas of the city as part of plans to discourage young people from smoking. The Chairman of the Municipal Council in Hail, Turki Al-Dhab’an, said the considerations come in the light of recommendations from a study proposing the designation of specific outlets and licenses for the sale of tobacco. The move, which could be finalized at the council’s meeting before being referred to Prince Mit’eb Bin Abdul Aziz, Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs, and his Deputy Prince Mansour Bin Mit’eb Bin Abdul Aziz, would see strict regulations put in place on shopkeepers. “Shops in breach of the regulations could be shut down by the Environmental Health Department and given large fines,” Al-Dhab’an said. . . . Calls have been renewed, meanwhile, to enforce the smoking ban at the Kingdom’s airports, with pilgrims and doctors lamenting the failure to see laws that go back as far as 1973 in place on the ground. Pilgrim Muhammed Al-Jahdli described the sight of tobacco advertising in public places as “annoying”. “It’s particularly irritating for pilgrims who come from all over the world and the first thing they see when they come out of the airport is these adverts everywhere,” Al-Jahdali said. “They have banned cigarettes in Makkah and the vicinity so they should also ban them in airports which receive millions of pilgrims,” he said. Saudi Gazette Online Saudi Arabia Mon, 12 Oct 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.wired.com/autopia/2009/09/european-airline-brings-back-the-smoking-section/ http://tobacco.org/news/290501.html For those who fear the old days when the difference between the smoking section on an airplane and the non-smoking section was simply whichever way the air was flowing inside the cabin, the smokeless cigarettes do not emit any toxins or chemicals to nearby passengers. Company spokesman Stephen McNamara believes when smokers can get their nicotine, everybody wins, “as these cigarettes are smokeless, they cause no discomfort to other passengers and can ensure a more enjoyable and stress-free flight for all passengers as non-smokers will no longer have to cope with moody smokers in need of nicotine.” Wired Mon, 28 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/faqs.php?sect=inf&quest=smoking http://tobacco.org/news/290483.html No. You may not smoke in any part of an aircraft operated by Ryanair. All of our aircraft are fitted with smoke detectors to ensure this policy is adhered to. Failure to adhere to this regulation may result in severe criminal penalties being brought against you as well as disruption costs being claimed against you by Ryanair. Any passenger who attempts to smoke on board a Ryanair aircraft will not be permitted to travel with Ryanair again. Ryanair Wed, 30 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/09/29/2009-09-29_puff_puff_ryanair_airlines_allows_smoking_on_flights.html http://tobacco.org/news/290482.html The Irish airline Ryanair is now allowing passengers to smoke on its flights, according to a press release. But nonsmokers need not cancel their reservations for fear of noxious fumes. The "smokeless" cigarettes are not lit - nicotine is inhaled directly. Packs of 10 smokeless cigarettes will be sold to passengers 18 years of age and older for 6 euros (about $8.72) on all flights. New York Daily News Tue, 29 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.arabnews.com/?page=13&section=0&article=126758&d=26&m=9&y=2009 http://tobacco.org/news/290265.html The only time when it is guaranteed that you will not find anyone smoking in our airports is during Ramadan daylight hours. This is the only time that the “No Smoking” sign is respected. If it isn’t Ramadan, the airport is full of cigarette smoke. . . . no one knows who is responsible for enforcing the smoking ban or who to complain when someone is smoking in these areas. To add fuel to fire, the airport employees, immigration officers and others are seen smoking in the terminals. The only airport workers not smoking are the cleaners. When someone suggested that the government should ban smoking in public places, I just laughed. When airports, where tight security should be implemented, fail to enforce the ban on smoking then how would the government ban it in public places? Arab News jehat5@yahoo.com (Khaled Al-Sulaiman * Okaz, jehat5@yahoo.com ) Saudi Arabia Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT http://www.ryanair.com/site/EN/news.php?yr=09&month=sep&story=gen-en-200909 http://tobacco.org/news/289938.html Ryanair, the World’s favourite airline, today (20th Sept) announced that smokers no longer have to worry about long flights without a cigarette as it launches a new range of Smokeless Cigarettes to ensure passengers get their required nicotine hit without breaking the law by ‘lighting up’ onboard their aircraft. In a recent survey over 24,000 Ryanair passengers said they would like to smoke during flights. . . . Ryanair’s new Similar Smokeless Cigarettes are available to passengers over 18 years of age and are sold in packs of 10 onboard all Ryanair flights for just €6. Similar Smokeless Cigarettes contain no toxins or chemicals and are harmless to the user and to those around them. . . . Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said, . . . As these cigarettes are smokeless they cause no discomfort to other passengers and can ensure a more enjoyable and stress free flight for all passengers as non-smokers will no longer have to cope with moody smokers in need of nicotine.” Smokeless Director Chris Parsons said, “Yet another first for Ryanair – now it’s also the smokers’ favourite airline.” Ryanair Ireland Sun, 20 Sep 2009 04:00:00 GMT