Airports And Smoking: Are There Still Designated Rooms?

As of 2024, most US hub airports are entirely smoke-free indoors, with some, like Indianapolis, also being smoke-free outdoors. However, a handful of US airports still allow indoor smoking, including McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Nashville International Airport, and Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. Outside of the US, many airports are also smoke-free, but some, like Amsterdam Schiphol Airport and Hamad International Airport, have designated smoking lounges.

US airports that still allow smoking indoors

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, to name a few. However, a few airports still allow smoking indoors, despite the well-known health hazards of secondhand smoke. Here is a list of some U.S. airports that still permit indoor smoking:

Miami International Airport (MIA)

At MIA, smoking is allowed in an "open-air" atrium attached to the airport's TGI Fridays restaurant. This area has four walls and a roof with a gap, allowing smokers to technically be outdoors while still being under a roof.

Harry Reid International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS)

Smoking is permitted in several indoor locations at LAS, including Barney's Lounge (C Gates), the Budweiser Racing Track Lounge in the Esplanade Pre-Security area, and enclosed gaming lounges at the B, C, D, and E Gates. The airport was smoke-free indoors from December 2006 until August 2010, but a change in Nevada law allowed smoking in bars that do not serve food, which includes the aforementioned lounges.

Nashville International Airport (BNA)

Nashville's airport has two designated indoor smoking areas: the Graycliff Boutique & Lounge locations on Concourse B near Gate B10 and on Concourse C near Gate C10. Smoking is permitted with a purchase from the lounge.

Memphis International Airport (MEM)

Memphis International Airport is listed as one of the few remaining airports that allow indoor smoking. However, specific locations or lounges within the airport that permit smoking are not mentioned.

McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas (LAS)

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas is also listed as one of the airports that still allow indoor smoking. However, specific details about designated smoking areas within the airport are not provided.

Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport (CVG)

The Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport is another airport that is listed as allowing indoor smoking, but no further details are given about specific smoking areas or lounges.

Biloxi, Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport (GPT)

Biloxi's airport has an indoor smoking room located by Gate 1.

Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Washington Dulles International Airport has previously allowed indoor smoking, and while it is not confirmed if this policy has changed, one source mentions that Dulles has "smoking rooms."

It is important to note that the list of airports with indoor smoking areas has dwindled over the years, and many airports have implemented no-smoking policies more recently, such as Washington Dulles and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport.

International airports with smoking rooms

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. However, some U.S. airports still allow indoor smoking, including McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, and Biloxi.

When it comes to international airports with smoking rooms, here is a list of some notable ones:

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport, Mumbai, India:

Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Airport in Mumbai, India, offers several smoking lounges in both the departure and arrival terminals. In Terminal 1, you can find smoking lounges in the arrival hall next to Belt Five and between Gates 26 and 27 for departures. Terminal 2 also has smoking lounges at Level 4 retail, Gate 28 (international departures), Level 3 retail, and Gates 42 and 47 (domestic departures).

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands:

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport has a mix of smoking lounges and rooms located before and after passport control. Before entering the secured area, smoking areas can be found outside Schiphol Plaza, marked with white dotted lines. After passport control, smoking lounges are conveniently located inside airport bars.

Hamad International Airport, Doha, Qatar:

Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, maintains a strict no-smoking policy outside of its designated smoking lounges. These lounges are equipped with smoke extractors and are located throughout the departures terminals. The airport has 14 smoking lounges in Terminal 1 and 19 in Terminal 2, making them easily accessible to travellers.

McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, USA:

McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas, USA, provides both outdoor smoking areas near ticketing and baggage claim, as well as indoor smoking options. Smoking is permitted at the gaming lounges located at the B, C, D, and E Gates. Additionally, travellers can find indoor smoking lounges at Barney's Lounge in Gate C and the Bud 29 Track Lounge in the T1 Esplanade.

Washington Dulles International Airport, USA:

Washington Dulles International Airport allows smoking only in designated smoking lounges located throughout the airport. These lounges can be found at each concourse near Gates B37, B73, C2, and D30. Smoking outside of these designated areas is prohibited and may result in a fine.

It is important to note that while these airports provide smoking rooms, the availability and location of these rooms may change over time. Therefore, it is always a good idea to check the official websites or resources like "airportsmokers.com" for the most up-to-date information. Additionally, some airports may have specific age restrictions or other regulations in place for their smoking lounges.

The health hazards of secondhand smoke in airports

As of 2024, most U.S. hub airports are completely smokefree indoors. However, some airports still allow indoor smoking, including McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi.

The presence of airport smoking rooms does not address the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Secondhand smoke, or passive smoking, is a mixture of mainstream smoke (exhaled by a person who smokes) and sidestream smoke (from the lighted end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar). It contains thousands of chemicals, including about 70 carcinogens. There is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke, and even brief exposure can be harmful.

The health risks of secondhand smoke in airports are significant. Secondhand smoke exposure can cause serious health problems in both children and adults, including lung cancer, respiratory infections, and asthma. Young children are especially vulnerable to secondhand smoke as their bodies are still developing. They may experience frequent coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, and other breathing problems. In addition, secondhand smoke can trigger asthma attacks or make symptoms worse.

In adults, secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing and dying from heart disease and lung cancer. It can also lead to other cancers, such as breast cancer and cancer of the larynx and nasopharynx. Pregnant people exposed to secondhand smoke may experience reproductive health problems, such as low birth weight and premature birth.

Airports that have banned smoking

As of 2024, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors. This includes major airports such as Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark. The most recent U.S. 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, eliminating second-hand smoke from building entrances and shuttle stops. Many airports have repurposed former smoking areas into seating areas, retail shops, and charging stations.

Internationally, many airports are now 100% smoke-free, including major hubs in Asia, such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok. A 2017 study published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report found that 23 of the world's 50 busiest airports have smoke-free indoor policies, indicating a growing trend toward smoke-free airports worldwide.

While most airports have banned smoking, a few U.S. airports still allow indoor smoking, including McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi. These airports have designated smoking areas or rooms, although it's important to note that even these designated areas do not prevent second-hand smoke from affecting other areas of the airport.

Airports with outdoor smoking areas

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. However, some airports still allow smoking indoors, including McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, Cincinnati-Northern KY, and Biloxi.

Many airports now have outdoor smoking areas, which can be found past security. For example, Greenville-Spartanburg has a courtyard attached to the terminal with a smoking corner, fountains, tables, and a walking path. Similarly, LAX, Tampa, and San Jose airports also have outdoor smoking areas.

Some airports have indoor smoking lounges, such as the one near Gate B10 in Nashville and the Graycliff Airport Lounge near Gate C-41 in Nassau. However, it is important to note that even these designated smoking areas do not prevent secondhand smoke from spreading throughout the building, posing health risks to travellers and employees.

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