Ruth Haines
Smoking has been progressively banned on flights and in airports around the world. However, designated smoking areas still exist in some airports outside the US, from Singapore's Changi Airport to Tunis International Airport in Tunisia. In the US, 32 of the top 35 busiest airports have 100% smoke-free indoor air policies, leaving only three exceptions: Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. Meanwhile, some smaller US airports, such as Charleston International Airport, have also implemented smoking bans. Globally, many airports have transitioned former smoking areas into spaces for seating, retail, and charging stations, reflecting the growing trend towards smoke-free environments.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Airports outside the US that have designated smoking areas | Singapore's Changi Airport, Tunis International Airport in Tunisia, Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok |
| Airports in the US that have designated smoking areas | Miami, Las Vegas, Tennessee, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, Biloxi, Washington Dulles International Airport, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Tampa International Airport, McCarran International Airport (Las Vegas) |
| Airports in the US that do not allow smoking | Indianapolis, Charleston International Airport (CHS) |
| Airports in the US with no information on smoking policies | Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) |
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What You'll Learn
Smoking is banned in airports outside the US
Smoking has been progressively banned on flights and in airports around the world. While there are still some designated smoking areas in airports outside the US, the number is dwindling. For example, Singapore's Changi Airport and Tunis International Airport in Tunisia still have designated smoking areas, but even here, smoking is in retreat.
Many airports are now 100% smoke-free, including major hubs in Asia, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok. A study from 2017 found that 23 of the world's 50 busiest airports have smoke-free indoor policies. Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smoke-free outdoors, eliminating the cloud of toxic smoke that can gather around building entrances.
In the US, 32 of the top 35 busiest airports now have 100% smoke-free indoor air policies. However, there are still some US airports where smoking is permitted in designated areas, including Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. Las Vegas International Airport has the most areas where smoking is permitted, including designated outdoor areas near ticketing and baggage claim.
Outside of the US, airports with designated smoking areas include Schiphol Plaza in the Netherlands, and Graycliff Cigar Company's smoking lounges at an unspecified airport.
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Airports with smoking areas outside the US
While smoking has been progressively banned in airports around the world, there are still some airports outside the US that have designated smoking areas.
Singapore Changi Airport
Singapore Changi Airport has a smoking lounge located in the transit area of Terminal 1. The lounge is spacious and can accommodate many passengers at once. It is well-designed and provides a comfortable place to smoke and relax.
Tunis International Airport, Tunisia
Tunis International Airport has designated smoking areas, but even here, smoking is in retreat.
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, USA
The world's busiest airport has at least two smoking lounges in each of its many concourses. Some of the smoking areas include Concourse B7, B24, C15, C28, D5, D7, E8, E17, and E30.
Washington Dulles International Airport, USA
The airport has four smoking lounges beyond the main terminal, including two lounges in Concourse B, one in Concourse C, and one in Concourse D. Max & Erma's Restaurant, by Gate B72, delivers food to a few tables in the adjacent airport smoking lounge.
Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, USA
A Graycliff Lounge opened near Gate B11 during the summer, and for a $6 fee, which includes a beverage, you can smoke and purchase cigarettes and cigars.
Non-smoking airports
Many airports are now 100% smoke-free, including major Asian hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok.
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Airports with smoke-free indoor policies
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark. The most recent airports to implement no-smoking policies were Washington Dulles in 2023 and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport in 2020. Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smoke-free outdoors.
However, there are still some airports that allow indoor smoking. As of April 1, 2025, 32 of the top 35 US airports had 100% smoke-free indoor air policies. The three exceptions were Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. Las Vegas International Airport has the most areas where smoking is permitted, including the Budweiser Racing Track Lounge in the Esplanade Pre-Security area and enclosed gaming lounges at several gates. At Miami International Airport, smoking is permitted in an 'open-air' atrium. Other airports that still allow indoor smoking include McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi.
Outside of the US, many airports also have smoke-free indoor policies. Major hubs in Asia, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok, are 100% smokefree. A 2017 report found that among the top 10 busiest airports, five had a smoke-free policy: Beijing Capital, Chicago O'Hare, London Heathrow, LAX, and Shanghai Pudong International. However, it is important to note that designated smoking areas in airports can still cause damage to airport employees and travellers through secondhand smoke exposure.
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US airports that allow indoor smoking
As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors. Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, Newark, and many more airports have implemented no-smoking policies. However, there are still a few US airports that allow indoor smoking in designated areas.
According to the American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation (ANRF), as of April 1, 2025, 32 of the top 35 US airports have 100% smoke-free indoor air policies. The three exceptions are Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. Las Vegas International Airport has the most areas where smoking is permitted, including Barney's Lounge (C gates) and the Budweiser Racing Track Lounge in the Esplanade Pre-Security area. At Miami International Airport, smoking is permitted in an 'open-air' atrium, which has four walls and a roof with a gap. Nashville International Airport also permits smoking in designated areas.
In addition to these three major airports, a few other US airports that still allow indoor smoking include McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi. However, it is important to note that the number of designated smoking areas in airports has shrunk over the years, and the availability of indoor smoking areas may change over time.
While some US airports may provide designated smoking areas, it is important to respect non-smoking areas and follow the airport's rules and regulations regarding smoking. Smoking is prohibited on all flights worldwide, and many airports have also implemented smoke-free policies to prioritize the health and comfort of employees and travelers.
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Health risks of second-hand smoke in airports
Smoking has been progressively banned on flights and in airports around the world. However, some airports still have indoor smoking areas, including in the US, where Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport permit smoking in designated areas. Outside of the US, Singapore's Changi Airport and Tunis International Airport in Tunisia also have designated smoking areas.
Despite the presence of designated smoking rooms, second-hand smoke can still waft throughout an airport building, causing health hazards to non-smokers. Second-hand smoke is a mixture of mainstream smoke (smoke exhaled by a smoker) and sidestream smoke (smoke from the lighted end of a cigarette, which has higher concentrations of nicotine and carcinogens than mainstream smoke). There is no safe level of exposure to second-hand smoke, and even low levels can be harmful.
Second-hand smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including about 70 that can cause cancer. It is classified as a known human carcinogen by the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US National Toxicology Program, the US Surgeon General, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Exposure to second-hand smoke irritates the airways and has immediate harmful effects on a person's heart and blood vessels. It increases the risk of heart disease by about 25 to 30% and the risk of stroke by 20 to 30%. The Surgeon General estimates that second-hand smoke exposure caused more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths among adult non-smokers each year between 2005 and 2009.
In addition to lung cancer, research suggests that second-hand smoke may increase the risk of breast cancer, nasal sinus cavity cancer, and nasopharyngeal cancer in adults, as well as leukemia, lymphoma, and brain tumors in children. Exposure during pregnancy has been linked to reduced fertility, pregnancy complications, and poor birth outcomes, including impaired lung development, low birth weight, and preterm delivery. Children exposed to second-hand smoke are also at an increased risk of sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, colds, pneumonia, bronchitis, and more severe asthma.
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Frequently asked questions
It depends on the country and airport. Some countries, like the US, have airports that provide designated smoking areas. These include Frankfurt Airport in Germany, Munich Airport, Vienna Airport, Lisbon Airport, and Singapore's Changi Airport. On the other hand, some airports in other countries, like Colombia, do not have smoking rooms. Many airports are now 100% smoke-free, including major hubs in Asia, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok.
As of April 1, 2025, 32 of the top 35 US airports have 100% smoke-free indoor air policies. The three exceptions are Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport. However, even in these airports, smoking is restricted to designated areas.
Yes, some airports that do not allow smoking indoors may permit it in designated areas outside the terminals. For example, Charleston International Airport in the US banned smoking inside and outside the terminal building, but it is unclear if smoking is allowed outside the airport grounds.
