SMOKEFREE AIRPORTS
TIPS FOR GOING SMOKEFREE

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Today most U.S. airports are 100% smokefree indoors for the health and safety of passengers and employees. Airports big and small have repurposed former smoking areas into more useful spaces, such as seating areas, retail shops, and charging stations. Here are some tips for transitioning to a smokefree airport, including examples from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport which permanently closed all 17 of its smoking lounges as of January 2, 2020.

INFORM TRAVELERS AND EMPLOYEES ABOUT THIS EXCITING CHANGE

smokefree airport advertisement
  • Post signs to inform everyone that the airport is now smokefree to protect the health of travelers and employees. Use plenty of opportunities to spread the news about being 100% smokefree (posters, notices on departure/arrival boards, buttons or stickers on staff, signs posted near smoking rooms about the transition, stickers on current butt receptacles and trash cans about the new policy, and of course public service announcements)
  • Post signs at locations of closed smoking rooms to direct travelers to the designated outdoor smoking areas.
smokefree sign post in airport
  • Post signs in/at the bathroom locations to remind travelers and employees about the smokefree policy.
  • Post a new audio announcement (“thanks for visiting McCarran International Airport…the airport is now smokefree…”)
  • Add a rolling banner notice on your website that makes note of the new smokefree policy in a healthy positive way (“Welcome to Las Vegas and the smokefree LAS airport! Because your health is important to us, we will be smokefree as of March 24th, 2020”)
airport entry doors with reflection of city
  • Train your staff to politely educate the public about the new smokefree policy. (“We now have a 100% smokefree policy at LAS. Smoking is allowed only outside Terminal X, Gate Z, 25 feet from the doorway…”)
  • Set up a page on your website and social media sites for questions about the new policy, information on the implementation date, how to file a complaint, how to comply and enforcement procedures. Here’s an example from ATL.
  • Plan for repurposing valuable space. Airport terminal space is a valuable commodity and every foot of available space should be used to the best advantage of the traveling public. Start planning now for turning the current smoking zones into additional seating, business zones, small kiosks, and other such things that are appreciated by the traveling public.

REPURPOSE YOUR VALUABLE SPACE

  • Start cleaning and repurposing the old smoking rooms into valuable space used by everyone traveling through LAS. Be creative and display scenic photos from the amazing Las Vegas landscape during the transition!
  • Solicit feedback from travelers on what they would like to see in the new space.

EXAMPLES OF REPURPOSED SMOKING ROOMS

yoga room sign
  • Passenger seating area
  • Retail
  • Charging stations/work area
  • Pet relief
  • Children’s play area
  • Yoga room