"Airports Open Smoking Facilities To Combat Drop-Off in Travel"

Friday, March 15, 2002    

Airports Open Smoking Facilities To Combat Drop-Off in Travel
By JESSE DRUCKER and JANE COSTELLO 
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL


Here's unexpected fallout from the drop in air travel: more chances to
smoke.

Several airports -- including LAX, Dallas/Fort Worth, Boston and Detroit
-- are considering opening new smoking facilities in terminals. An
important reason for the change: With retail sales off 14%, airports are
looking for ways to keep travelers in the terminal. Right now, many of
them have to go outside to smoke.

Earlier this month, the DFW Airport Board told its staff to study the
issue. And Detroit's Metropolitan Wayne County Airport is evaluating
proposals for a bar and grill near the international gates that would
permit smoking so "passengers would not need to go out to the curb
front," says an airport spokesman. (That would require an exception to
local laws banning smoking in county buildings.)

Another factor: With beefed-up security, going outside to smoke and then
coming back through the screening checkpoint requires a lot of extra
time.

"The purpose of clean air rules in airports is to protect nonsmokers
from second-hand smoke, not to punish smokers," says Dr. Michael Thun of
the American Cancer Society. "So it seems reasonable to me that airports
would try to accommodate people who are addicted."


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