Roberta Aguirre
Salt Lake City International Airport has implemented a 100% smokefree indoor air policy, joining over 600 other airports in the US. While smoking was previously permitted in designated areas inside the airport, these smoking lounges have been phased out, with the first closing in July 2016 and the last one closing in December 2016. Now, smoking and vaping are only permitted in designated areas in front of the terminal.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smoking allowed | No, Salt Lake City International Airport has a 100% smokefree indoor air policy |
| Smoking areas | Designated areas in front of the terminal on the west side of the building on the ground level |
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What You'll Learn
- Salt Lake City International Airport has a 100% smokefree indoor air policy
- There is a designated smoking area outside the terminal on the west side
- Smoking rooms have been phased out and replaced with seating and charging stations
- The decision was made in the interest of public health and to free up space
- Most US airports are now smoke-free
Salt Lake City International Airport has a 100% smokefree indoor air policy
The implementation of this policy began in 2016 when Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski announced that the airport would be smokefree by the end of the year. The airport started phasing out smoking rooms in July, and by the end of 2016, it had successfully transitioned to a 100% smokefree indoor air policy. This decision was made to protect the health of passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and airport employees, as well as to address the issue of secondhand smoke, which can be harmful even with ventilation systems.
Prior to the implementation of the smokefree policy, Salt Lake City International Airport had five post-security smoking rooms, which were promoted as a convenience for smokers making connections. However, the airport was beyond capacity and needed the extra space for amenities such as seating, tables, and power charging stations. The closure of the smoking lounges also aligns with the ongoing decline in the number of smokers and shifting public expectations for a healthier, smokefree environment.
The response to the lounge closure has been mixed, with some frequent smokers expressing disappointment while public health advocates and organizations applauding the decision. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network highlighted the potential financial benefits of eliminating smoking lounges, as smoking-related healthcare costs and lost work productivity can be significant. The U.S. Surgeon General also congratulated the airport on its decision, noting that the United States has had #SmokefreeSkies since 1990 and is now closer to achieving #SmokefreeAirports.
It is important to note that while Salt Lake City International Airport has a smokefree indoor air policy, smoking and vaping are still permitted in designated areas outside the terminal. This allows smokers to have a designated space to smoke while also providing a smokefree environment for those inside the airport.
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There is a designated smoking area outside the terminal on the west side
Salt Lake City International Airport has implemented a 100% smokefree indoor air policy. This means that smoking and vaping are only permitted in designated areas outside the terminal. If you are a smoker or vaper, you will need to go to the west side of the building on the ground level to find the designated smoking area. This policy has been in place since 2016, joining hundreds of other airports around the world with similar policies.
The indoor smoking lounges at SLC were phased out due to health concerns and to free up space for additional passenger amenities. The former smoking lounges have been repurposed to provide more seating, tables, and power charging stations. This decision was applauded by public health advocates, who cited the protection of workers and passengers from secondhand smoke exposure as a significant benefit.
Before the policy change, SLC promoted its smoking lounges as a convenience for smokers making connections. However, with the growing awareness of the health hazards of secondhand smoke and the decline in smoking rates, the airport decided to transition to a smokefree environment. This decision aligns with the trend in US airports, where most have now implemented 100% smoke-free indoor air policies.
If you are a smoker travelling through SLC, it is important to plan ahead and allow extra time to visit the designated smoking area outside the terminal. This policy ensures that all passengers and workers can breathe easier and enjoy a healthier airport environment.
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Smoking rooms have been phased out and replaced with seating and charging stations
Salt Lake City International Airport has implemented a 100% smokefree indoor air policy. This means that smoking rooms have been phased out and replaced with seating and charging stations. While this decision has been applauded by public health advocates, it has received a mixed response from passengers. Some passengers are disappointed by the change, as the smoking rooms were a convenient option for smokers during layovers or long jaunts.
The phasing out of smoking rooms at SLC Airport began in July 2016, with the airport successfully transitioning to a completely smokefree indoor space by the end of that year. This move aligns with the ongoing decline in smoking rates and shifting public expectations for healthier, smokefree environments. It also addresses the health hazards of secondhand smoke, which were not adequately mitigated by previous measures such as airport smoking rooms and ventilation systems.
The former smoking rooms at SLC Airport have been repurposed to provide additional amenities for passengers. The glass walls have been removed, and the space now offers useful features such as seating, tables, and power charging stations. This repurposing of space optimizes the available square footage, enhancing the overall travel experience for passengers.
The implementation of a smokefree policy at SLC Airport is part of a broader trend. More than 600 U.S. airports are now 100% smoke-free, and many international airports have also adopted smokefree indoor policies. Additionally, airports are increasingly designating smokefree zones outside entrances and in semi-enclosed areas to further promote healthy and smoke-free environments.
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The decision was made in the interest of public health and to free up space
Salt Lake City International Airport has implemented a 100% smokefree indoor air policy. This means that smoking and vaping are only permitted in designated areas in front of the terminal. The decision to create a smoke-free airport was made in the interest of public health and to free up space.
Secondhand smoke poses significant health hazards to people in the building, including passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and airport employees. The removal of smoking lounges at SLC Airport has been applauded by public health advocates, who emphasize the protection of workers and passengers from the dangers of secondhand smoke exposure. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network also highlights the potential financial benefits of eliminating smoking lounges, estimating substantial healthcare cost savings and improvements in smoking-related lost work productivity.
Addressing the decision, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski emphasized the health and space advantages of the policy change. She stated that "every foot of available space should be used to the best advantage of the traveling public." The repurposed space from the former smoking lounges now accommodates useful passenger amenities, including seating, tables, and power charging stations.
The transition to a smoke-free environment at SLC Airport aligns with the trend in airports worldwide, as almost all U.S. airports and many international airports have adopted smokefree indoor policies. This shift reflects the growing awareness of the health risks associated with secondhand smoke, the decline in smoking rates, and evolving public expectations for healthier, smoke-free environments. Additionally, airports are increasingly designating smokefree zones outside entrances and in semi-enclosed areas to further promote smoke-free environments.
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Most US airports are now smoke-free
As of 2024, almost all US airports have adopted smoke-free policies, with smoking banned indoors and in semi-enclosed areas such as garages and shuttle stops. This includes major airports like Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark. Salt Lake City International Airport, for example, implemented a 100% smoke-free indoor air policy in 2016, joining the ranks of airports worldwide that prioritize the health of passengers and staff.
The transition to smoke-free airports is a public health victory, driven by growing awareness of the dangers of secondhand smoke, declining smoking rates, and shifting expectations for healthier environments. The American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation celebrates this progress, noting that once-secret tobacco industry documents revealed efforts to target hub airports to maintain indoor smoking.
While most US airports are now smoke-free, a few notable exceptions include Miami, Las Vegas, and Nashville International Airports, which still offer designated indoor smoking areas. These airports have permitted smoking in specific lounges, pre-security areas, and near ticketing and baggage claim zones.
Internationally, many airports have also gone smoke-free, including major hubs in Asia like Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok. A 2017 study found that 23 of the world's 50 busiest airports had implemented smokefree indoor policies, reflecting a global shift towards prioritizing health and well-being.
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Frequently asked questions
No, you can't. Salt Lake City International Airport implemented a 100% smokefree indoor air policy in 2016.
Yes, there is a designated smoking area outside the terminal on the west side of the building on the ground level.
The SLC airport banned indoor smoking to protect the health of passengers, pilots, flight attendants, and airport employees.
