Owais Crawford
Smoking has been progressively banned on flights and in public areas of airports worldwide. However, some airports still have designated smoking areas, such as Singapore's Changi Airport, Tunis International Airport in Tunisia, and Denver International Airport. As of April 1, 2025, 32 of the top 35 US airports have 100% smoke-free indoor air policies, with Las Vegas's Harry Reid International Airport, Miami International Airport, and Nashville International Airport being the three exceptions. While indoor smoking areas are becoming less common, many airports still provide designated smoking areas outside the terminals.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Smoking allowed in designated spots outside terminals | Yes |
| Indoor smoking allowed | No |
| Number of smoking lounges in Terminal 1 | 14 |
| Number of smoking lounges in Terminal 2 | 19 |
| Locations of smoking lounges | Near Gates B37, B73, C2, and D30 |
| Locations of outdoor smoking areas | Near ticketing and baggage claim |
| Smoking allowed in gaming lounges | Yes |
| Smoking lounges with entry fees | Graycliff Cigar Company's lounges at Concourse B and Concourse C |
| Smoking lounges with free entry | Lounge in the transit area of Terminal T1 |
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What You'll Learn
Smoking lounges and designated areas
Many airports have designated smoking areas and lounges. However, smoking is not permitted in public areas at most airports. For example, nearly all U.S. hub airports are 100% smoke-free indoors, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, and Newark.
Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smoke-free outdoors. Internationally, many airports are also 100% smoke-free, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok.
However, some airports do provide designated smoking areas and lounges. For example, the airport in the source article has smoking lounges and rooms located before and after passport control. Before passport control, smoking areas are located outside, and after passport control, most smoking lounges are located inside airport bars. This airport also has a strict no-smoking policy outside of its designated smoking lounges, which are fitted with smoke extractors and located in the departures terminals.
Miami International Airport (MIA) does not permit e-cigarette use indoors but does permit smoking outside the terminals on the Arrivals and Departures levels across from Concourse D, E, F, H, and J. There is also an open-air atrium attached to a restaurant near Gate D-36.
Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, also has smoking lounges located throughout the airport in both the departure and arrival terminals.
Tampa Airport has smoking areas at each set of gates. While they are technically outdoors, they are covered.
Denver International Airport has designated smoking areas outside the Jeppesen Terminal.
Some airports have smoking lounges that require payment to enter. For example, the Graycliff Cigar Company offers two in-house smoking lounges at Concourse B by Gate B-10 and Concourse C by Gate C-10 for a few dollars. They sell handcrafted cigars and tobacco products. Nassau (NAS) also has the Graycliff Airport Lounge near Gate C-41.
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Outdoor smoking spots
Salt Lake City International Airport
This airport has a designated smoking area outside the terminal on the west side of the building on the ground level.
Maui Airport
Maui Airport has a small outdoor smoking area in the parking lot, across the street from the terminal. It is a 4ft by 4ft square, with no benches or overhead cover.
Tampa Airport
Tampa Airport has covered outdoor smoking areas at each set of gates.
Denver International Airport
There are designated smoking areas outside the Jeppesen Terminal, near the south center doors. Cigarette disposal receptacles are provided in these areas.
Mumbai Airport
Mumbai Airport has smoking lounges in both the departure and arrival terminals. In Terminal 1, there is a smoking area in the arrival hall next to Belt Five, and in departures between Gates 26 and 27. In Terminal 2, there are smoking areas at Level 4 retail, Gate 28, Level 3 retail, and Gates 42 and 47.
Miami International Airport
Miami International Airport permits smoking outdoors across the street from Concourse D, E, F, H, and J, and in an open-air atrium attached to the airport's TGI Fridays restaurant near Gate D-36.
Honolulu
Honolulu has been described as "pretty awful" for smoking areas. The outdoor smoking areas are located a good walk away from the terminal, with no shade or rain protection.
European and Asian Airports
Many users have praised European and Asian airports for their smoking rooms, which can be found inside the airport after passing through passport control.
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Airports with smoking bans
While many airports have designated smoking areas, there are a growing number of airports that have banned smoking indoors.
United States
Nearly all major US hub airports are now 100% smoke-free indoors, including Chicago O'Hare, Denver, Salt Lake City, JFK, Newark, Washington Dulles, and Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson Airport. Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smoke-free outdoors.
Asia
Internationally, many airports have also gone smoke-free, including major hubs in Asia such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Bangkok.
Europe
In the Netherlands, smoking is banned in enclosed public spaces, and Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport reflects this with smoking lounges located inside airport bars and outside Schiphol Plaza.
Other Smoke-Free Airports
A study published in 2017 found that 23 of the world's 50 busiest airports have smoke-free indoor policies.
While some airports have banned smoking completely, others have designated smoking areas, usually located outside the terminals. For example, Miami International Airport (MIA) permits smoking outside the terminals on the Arrivals and Departures levels and in an open-air atrium attached to a restaurant near Gate D-36. Tampa Airport also has outdoor smoking areas at each set of gates.
Some airports have indoor smoking lounges, such as Ataturk Airport in Istanbul, Turkey, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai, India, which has smoking lounges in both the departure and arrival terminals.
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Health hazards of secondhand smoke
Many airports have designated smoking areas, usually located outside the terminal building. Some airports also have indoor smoking lounges, often located in the departures terminals. These lounges are fitted with smoke extractors and can be found in nearly every concourse. However, some airports, like Denver International Airport, only offer outdoor smoking areas.
Regardless of whether you are in a designated smoking area or not, secondhand smoke poses serious health hazards. Even brief exposure to secondhand smoke can cause immediate harm to the body. About 2,500,000 people who did not smoke died from health issues caused by secondhand smoke exposure. In adults, this exposure increases the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and lung cancer. It can also cause adverse reproductive health effects in women, including low birth weight. For children, secondhand smoke can cause respiratory infections, ear infections, and asthma attacks. It is the leading cause of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Secondhand smoke exposure can produce harmful inflammatory and respiratory effects within 60 minutes, which can last for at least three hours. Even a short duration of exposure can damage the lining of blood vessels and cause blood platelets to become stickier, increasing the risk of a heart attack. Non-smokers exposed to secondhand smoke increase their chances of developing lung cancer by 20-30%. This exposure causes more than 7,300 lung cancer deaths each year in the United States among non-smoking adults.
The Surgeon General and federal agencies like OSHA and NIOSH recognize that there is no safe level of exposure to secondhand smoke. They recommend reducing exposure to the lowest possible level.
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Alternatives to smoking
Quitting smoking can be challenging due to nicotine's addictive nature, but there are several alternatives to smoking that can help curb cravings and manage withdrawal symptoms. Here are some strategies to consider:
Nicotine Replacement Therapy
Nicotine replacement therapy provides nicotine without the harmful components of cigarettes. This approach can help curb cravings and reduce withdrawal side effects. Over-the-counter options include nicotine patches, which deliver a steady dose of nicotine through the skin, and nicotine lozenges, which provide a dose of nicotine while keeping your mouth occupied. Other nicotine replacement products include sprays and gums. It is important to consult with a healthcare professional before starting nicotine replacement therapy and to combine it with therapy or counseling for better success rates.
Healthy Distractions and Substitutes
Oral fixation is a significant aspect of smoking addiction. Substituting healthy alternatives can help distract you from cravings. Keep sugar-free gum, mints, toothpicks, or cinnamon sticks handy to satisfy your oral fixation without resorting to smoking. Additionally, drinking water or non-caffeinated, non-alcoholic beverages can help curb cravings.
Lifestyle Changes
Making lifestyle changes can be an effective way to manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Regular exercise can help improve your mood, reduce stress, and provide a healthy distraction. Maintaining a healthy diet is also important. Certain foods, such as fruits (especially apples), vegetables (like carrot sticks), raisins, and nuts, can satisfy cravings for crunch without the negative health consequences of smoking. Maintaining a consistent sleep schedule and practicing relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or stretching, can also help manage stress and cravings.
Alternative Therapies
Some individuals have found success with alternative approaches such as hypnosis, acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy, or electrostimulation. While clinical studies have not conclusively proven the effectiveness of these methods for quitting tobacco, some people claim they help reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Prescription Medications
In some cases, prescription medications may be appropriate to help manage nicotine cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Bupropion, a prescription antidepressant, has been approved by the FDA to treat nicotine addiction under the trade name Zyban. It can be used safely in conjunction with nicotine replacement products, but it is important to discuss potential side effects and interactions with a healthcare professional.
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Frequently asked questions
Most large-hub airports in the United States and around the world prohibit smoking indoors. However, some airports have designated smoking areas, usually outside the terminal building. A few airports, such as McCarran Las Vegas, Memphis, Nashville, and Miami International Airport, have indoor smoking areas.
Yes, many airports are now 100% smokefree, including major hubs such as Beijing, Shanghai, Bangkok, London Heathrow, and Los Angeles International. Some airports, like Indianapolis, are also smokefree outdoors.
Some airports have smoking lounges or designated smoking areas with matches and ashtrays. These areas are usually located near the gates or in the departures and arrivals terminals. Alternatively, some airports have outdoor smoking areas near ticketing and baggage claim.
