Airports And Smoking: Designated Areas And The Law

Smoking indoors is a public health hazard, and as of 2024, almost all US hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors. However, airports like McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi still allow indoor smoking. Designated outdoor smoking areas are available at airports such as William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and Greenville-Spartanburg.

Where are the smoking areas in LAX?

There is a smoking area in the Tom Bradley International Terminal at LAX. It is located outdoors, near the food court, and can be found by following these directions:

Once you have passed through security, head towards Gate 130 and the food court. Walk through the food court, and on the other side, you will see an overhead sign that mentions the smoking area. Take a left, walk past the restrooms, and you will find a glass door on the right that leads to the smoking patio.

The smoking patio is enclosed by high glass walls and offers a decent-sized area to smoke, with no seats. It also provides a great view of aircraft landing.

Please note that the official LAX website does not offer any information on designated smoking areas. This is by design, as the smoking area is relatively new and the City of Los Angeles has taken aggressive efforts to discourage smoking.

Historically, there were outdoor patios in Terminal 2 and Terminal 6, but these have been turned into pet relief areas where smoking is no longer permitted.

If you are flying out of Terminal 7 or 8, give yourself at least 15 minutes to reach the smoking area, as it may be easier to step outside and smoke rather than walking to the designated area.

Are there any airports where you can smoke inside?

As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors. However, some airports do have designated smoking areas outdoors, such as William P. Hobby Airport in Houston, which has three designated outdoor smoking areas at the upstairs Departures level and two downstairs at the Arrivals level. These areas have been improved with the addition of benches, trash cans, attractive plants, and prominent signage.

Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smoke-free outdoors, but a handful of U.S. airports still allow indoor smoking, including McCarran in Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi.

Internationally, many airports are now 100% smoke-free, including major Asian hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok.

How do airports enforce no-smoking policies?

As of 2024, most US hub airports are entirely smoke-free indoors, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark. Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smoke-free outdoors. Many airports have repurposed former indoor smoking areas into seating areas, retail shops, and charging stations.

Internationally, many airports are also 100% smoke-free, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok. A 2017 study found that 23 of the world's 50 busiest airports have smoke-free indoor policies.

Airports that still allow indoor smoking in the US include McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi. However, even in airports with designated smoking areas, smokers must follow specific rules and restrictions. For example, at LAX, smokers can only access the outdoor smoking area in the Tom Bradley Terminal after passing through security and the food court.

To enforce no-smoking policies, airports employ various measures, including:

• Signage: Clear and prominent signage indicating no-smoking areas and directing smokers to designated smoking areas.
• Repurposing of smoking areas: Many airports have transformed former smoking areas into other facilities, such as seating areas or retail spaces, reducing the number of places where smoking is allowed.
• Collaboration with law enforcement: Airports work closely with local law enforcement agencies to enforce no-smoking policies and ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Fines and penalties: Violators of no-smoking policies may face fines or other legal consequences. For example, passengers caught smoking on non-smoking flights can face fines or even arrest upon landing.
• Education and awareness: Airports may conduct educational campaigns to inform travellers and employees about the health risks of smoking and the importance of adhering to no-smoking policies.
• Collaboration with airlines: Airports work with airlines to ensure consistent enforcement of no-smoking policies, both in the airport and during flights.

What are the health risks of smoking areas in airports?

Smoking areas in airports pose several health risks to both smokers and non-smokers. Firstly, tobacco smoke contains over 7000 compounds, including nicotine, benzopyrene, arsenic, and cadmium, which are known to irritate the respiratory tract and reduce oxygen transport in the body. As a result, tobacco smoking is a major contributing factor to respiratory infections, and smokers are at a higher risk of developing acute respiratory tract infections, with longer cough durations and an increased likelihood of lower respiratory illnesses.

Secondly, designated smoking areas in airports often have poor ventilation, leading to a high concentration of particulate matter (PM) in the air. This increases the risk of spreading infectious diseases, especially respiratory infections, among individuals using these spaces. The high levels of secondhand smoke in and around these areas expose both employees and travellers to dangerous air quality, increasing their risk of developing various health issues.

Additionally, smoking increases the risk of community-acquired pneumonia, with smokers being 1.5 times more likely to contract it than non-smokers. Smoking also exacerbates the risk of influenza-related hospitalisation, with the efficacy of the influenza vaccine being significantly reduced in smokers. The complex pathological events induced by tobacco smoking make smokers more susceptible to upper and lower respiratory tract infections.

Furthermore, smoking has negative effects beyond the respiratory system. Epidemiological studies have shown a correlation between tobacco smoking and inflammatory diseases of oral tissues, including salivary glands, mucosa, and periodontium. Smokers are up to five times more likely to develop periodontal disorders due to the release of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators triggered by smoke.

Overall, the presence of smoking areas in airports poses significant health risks, including respiratory infections, increased cancer risk, and inflammatory oral diseases. These risks affect not only smokers but also non-smokers who are exposed to secondhand smoke.

What are some examples of airports that have improved their smoking areas?

Many airports around the world have smoking areas, and some have improved these areas in recent years. For example, Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) has a smoking area in the Tom Bradley Terminal, which has been described as "brand new" and "great" by travellers. This outdoor smoking area can be found on the fifth floor after security, past the food court, and has glass walls overlooking the tarmac.

However, some airports have been criticised for the state of their smoking areas. For instance, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, India, has been called out for its crowded smoking zone.

While some airports have made efforts to improve the ventilation and air quality in their smoking areas, there are still concerns about the potential health risks associated with exposure to secondhand smoke in these spaces.

As a result, some countries, such as Australia and New Zealand, have implemented regulations to create completely smoke-free airports, prioritising the protection of public health.

Frequently asked questions