Roberta Aguirre
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, implemented a smoking ban on 2 January 2020, prohibiting smoking and vaping within the airport. Prior to the ban, the airport had about a dozen post-security smoking spaces. However, due to an enhanced ordinance in Atlanta banning smoking in enclosed public spaces, the airport was required to close these smoking lounges. As a result, smokers at the airport now have to exit security to find designated outdoor smoking areas. This change aligns with the efforts to protect individuals from exposure to secondhand smoke and encourage a smoke-free environment.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smoking ban effective date | 2nd January 2020 |
| Smoking allowed | Only in designated outdoor smoking areas before entering security |
| Smoking areas inside the airport | None |
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What You'll Learn
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport banned smoking in 2020
- Before the ban, there were about a dozen post-security smoking spaces
- The ban was due to an ordinance prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces
- The airport now offers nicotine lozenges to smokers
- Other US airports have since followed Atlanta's lead
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport banned smoking in 2020
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, banned smoking on its premises in 2020. Smoking has been prohibited inside U.S. airports for several years, but private lounges were built to accommodate smokers. Hartsfield-Jackson alone had seven lounges across its concourses, initially paid for by Phillip Morris before the 1996 Summer Olympics. However, on January 2, 2020, the Atlanta City Council's total smoking ban came into effect, requiring smokers to exit security to smoke.
The airport became the largest in the U.S. to officially ban smoking, with a passenger volume of over 55 million in 2018. The decision was based on a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which found that designated indoor smoking areas at airports do not effectively eliminate secondhand smoke exposure. The ban applies to smoking and vaping in all enclosed public spaces, including bars and restaurants.
To assist passengers, the airport launched an accommodation program, providing free nicotine lozenges to those who asked where to smoke. These lozenges were available at two dozen concession stores and outdoor smoking zones. The airport also communicated the changes through public service announcements and permanent and digital signage.
The smoking ban at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport is a significant step towards protecting millions of people from secondhand smoke exposure. It sets a precedent for other airports with smoking lounges to follow suit and prioritize the health and comfort of their passengers and staff.
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Before the ban, there were about a dozen post-security smoking spaces
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which has long held the title of the world's busiest airport, was once home to about a dozen post-security smoking spaces. However, this changed with the passing of an ordinance in Atlanta that banned smoking and vaping in enclosed public spaces.
Before the ban, smokers could light up in designated lounges located throughout the airport. These lounges were initially paid for by Phillip Morris in advance of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Despite claims from airport officials that the lounges benefited non-smokers by keeping secondhand smoke away and discouraging smokers from lighting up in other areas, the U.S. Surgeon General determined that there is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
As a result of the new ordinance, Hartsfield-Jackson complied and converted the smoking lounges into other useful spaces. The airport became entirely smoke-free after security on March 8, 2020, with smokers now having to exit security to smoke. This change was significant, as the airport handles a large volume of passengers and employees, meaning millions of people would be protected from exposure to secondhand smoke.
The shift towards making airports smoke-free has been a broader trend, with a handful of other busy airports in the U.S. following suit and removing their smoking lounges.
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The ban was due to an ordinance prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, implemented a total smoking ban on 2 January 2020. The ban was due to an ordinance prohibiting smoking in enclosed public spaces. Before the ban, there were about a dozen post-security smoking lounges at the airport, initially paid for by Phillip Morris in advance of the 1996 Summer Olympics. However, an enhanced ordinance in Atlanta banned smoking and vaping in bars, restaurants, and other enclosed public spaces, leading to the closure of the smoking lounges at the airport.
The Atlanta City Council passed the smoking ban ordinance, which applied to the entire city of Atlanta, including the airport. As a result, smokers at the airport had to exit security to smoke outside. The airport offered free nicotine lozenges to help travellers adjust to the new rule.
The ban on smoking at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport was a significant development, as the airport handles the largest passenger volume and has a substantial workforce. The ban aimed to protect millions of people from exposure to secondhand smoke, which, according to the U.S. Surgeon General, has no risk-free level of exposure.
While some airports have chosen to repurpose their former smoking lounges into seating areas or food options, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport opted for a comprehensive ban. This decision ensured that both smokers and non-smokers would benefit from the ordinance, as it discouraged smoking in restrooms and other non-designated areas.
The smoking ban at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport set a precedent for other airports in the United States that still operated smoking lounges. It demonstrated a commitment to protecting public health and providing a comfortable travel experience for all passengers and staff.
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The airport now offers nicotine lozenges to smokers
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, implemented a smoking ban on 2 January 2020. The ban was enforced to comply with an enhanced city-wide ordinance that prohibits smoking and vaping in enclosed public spaces. As a result, the airport's smoking lounges were closed, and smoking was only permitted in designated outdoor areas before security.
To assist travellers with the transition, the airport offered free nicotine lozenges to smokers for a limited time. This initiative was part of a "30-day accommodation program" in partnership with the airport advertising contractor Clear Channel, which provided 60,000 free packs of nicotine lozenges. The lozenges were distributed by airport workers and made available in various airport shops and restaurants.
The nicotine lozenges were offered to passengers who had limited access to the exterior smoking zones, helping them manage their nicotine cravings while navigating the airport's new smoke-free policy. This temporary measure recognised that "smoking is a part of daily life for some" and aimed to ease the transition for smokers adjusting to the new regulations.
The distribution of nicotine lozenges was well-received by travellers, providing a harm reduction alternative to smoking, especially for those with connecting flights who had to exit the secure concourses to access the designated outdoor smoking areas. The lozenges were FDA-approved nicotine replacement therapy products, ensuring a safe and effective option for smokers.
The Atlanta airport's decision to offer nicotine lozenges demonstrated a proactive approach to harm reduction and traveller well-being. By providing a temporary alternative to smoking, the airport helped smokers manage their nicotine dependence while respecting the new smoke-free environment. This initiative set a positive example for other airports transitioning to smoke-free policies, offering a practical solution to support smokers during the adjustment period.
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Other US airports have since followed Atlanta's lead
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, the world's busiest airport, implemented a smoking ban on 2 January 2020. Since then, several other US airports have followed suit.
For example, in 2021, Charleston International Airport became a smoke-free campus, banning smoking and vaping of any kind inside or outside the terminal. Denver International Airport closed three of its four indoor smoking rooms in 2018 and was scheduled to close the final one when its lease expired. In 2016, Salt Lake City International Airport, a large US hub, also announced a smoke-free policy, getting rid of its five post-security smoking rooms.
Despite these changes, a handful of the country's busiest airports still offer smoking lounges for passengers, including Nashville International Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Miami International Airport. However, the number of smoking lounges in US airports is declining, and it is now rare to find places to smoke inside airports.
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Frequently asked questions
No, smoking inside the airport is prohibited.
No, there are no designated smoking areas inside the airport.
The Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport banned smoking on 2 January 2020.
Yes, smoking is permitted in designated outdoor areas before entering security.
