"Reno airport nixes smoking rooms"

Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Reno airport nixes smoking rooms
The Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal

   
Flying is about to get even more stressful for smokers passing through
the Reno airport.

The glassed-in smoking rooms where passengers can take a cigarette break
between planes are going away.

Partly, it's a clean air issue. Mostly, it's economic. The airport wants
the space to expand its gift shops.

"We don't want to inconvenience any passengers,"said airport spokesman
Adam Mayberry."We need to increase revenue to sustain air service and
operations."

Officials planned to make the airport smoke-free in 1992 but built the
enclosed rooms one in each of the two concourses after smokers protested
and tourism officials sympathized.

Judi Shereda of Reno blames the recent decision on greed.

"When I fly, I plan my trip around airports that have smoking sections
on concourses. Air travel is stressful enough after Sept. 11 without
being trapped without a smoking section," she said.

"It's discriminatory and it's ridiculous, expecially since they are
doing it to sell more overpriced paperbacks and travel pillows."

When the smoking rooms go away possibly as soon as next week people will
have to walk outside for a puff. And return through the security lines
to get back to their gate.


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