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No-Smoking Airline Flights

"You've come a long way, baby," since ASH first forced U.S. airlines to provide no-smoking sections, and eventually helped ban smoking on virtually all U.S. domestic flights. Now, as a result of continuing pressure, more and more airlines have gone smokefree, as this page indicates.

The following information -- including that on the detailed chart -- is provided by the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy of the U.S. Department of Transportation:

All U.S. air carriers have banned smoking systemwide.

Smoking is banned by statute on almost all U.S. domestic flights, and is prohibited by international agreement on nonstop flights operated by Australian, Canadian, New Zealand and U.S. carriers between their territories. The vast majority of smoking bans on international flights serving the United States are the result of voluntary action by airlines, with encouragement by the U. S. Government.

Since international flights of U.S. carriers constitute 51 percent of all flights to and from the United States, an analysis of the flights of foreign carriers was undertaken of smoking trends on flights to and from the United States. In particular, a query was made of airlines that served the United States during calendar year 1997 to determine their present smoking policy. The data were analyzed in terms of all flights and stratified by region.

The survey found the following:

a. As of September 1, 1998, smoking is prohibited on 91 percent of flights to and from the United States.

b. Over 50 non-U.S. carriers prohibit smoking on all of their flights.

c. Smoking has been practically eliminated on flights of African, Caribbean, North American and Oceana carriers serving the United States.

The following chart is current to 09/29/03. For more information.

FAQ: Air Traveler's Handbook: Smoke-Free Flights

Action on Smoking and Health (ASH)
701 4th St. NW / Washington, DC 20001 / (202) 659-4310
A national nonprofit, scientific and educational organization founded in 1967.
All donations are fully tax deductible.