New Airline Says Thank You For Smoking

The New York Daily Sun ^ | June 27, 2006 | KATE CONNOLLY

[Paleo Conservative]

BERLIN - A German businessman has founded an airline dedicated to smokers.

Smintair, or "Smokers' International Airways," aims to cater for smoking passengers, particularly from Asia, who feel they have been squeezed out of the market.

Its first aircraft are due to take off in October on a route between Dusseldorf and Tokyo and are expected to serve mainly Japanese businessmen.

.........

"It disturbs me that I pay a lot of money for a ticket only to be told what I can and cannot do," he said.

[Paleo Conservative]

That's one airline I'll never fly on. I once had to sit in the back of a Braniff 727-200 with all the chain smokers from SFO to DFW, because there weren't any seats left in the non-smoking section.

[Rhiannon]

You have all the other flights to fly on.The idea of a smoking flight is for those who smoke.It is not for nonsmokers.

[Paleo Conservative]

If you want on or off the aerospace ping list, please contact me by Freep mail.

[Mears]

I remember the days when you could smoke all over the plane.

I never heard a word of complaint. (Of cxourse flying was comfortable and fun in those days)

[Rembrandt]

This will cost JAL a lot of money. Virtually every Japanese male is a chain smoker and they're very insistent on their rights to do what they want (still Samurais, I guess).

Those planes on the way to Dusseldorf will be jam packed, every flight with Japanese traveling to just about anywhere in Europe, they'll train or drive or fly from Dusseldorf. Or they'll just stay in Dusseldorf and drink WeisBier and eat pig knuckles and eat spargel - great stuff!!

[Just A Nobody]

That's one airline I'll never fly on.

Good! What part of .....

an airline dedicated to smokers

did you NOT understand?

[Just A Nobody]

Check it out!

[the anti-liberal]

Just don't open that window when you need to ash, eh?

Wonder how much it'll cost to replace upholstery and carpets?

Hope they've got some good air filtration on those flights...

[the anti-liberal]

Yes, and as a non-smoker, it's one flight he'll never fly on... geez.

Ditto here - as a non-smoker.

[sageb1]

ping

[Tammy8]

I remember when you could smoke nearly anywhere and I don't remember any complaints. The complaints started when different places stopped allowing smoking. That never made sense to me, just proves you can't make some people happy I guess.

[steveegg]

Back in the good old days, the airplanes brought in fresh air constantly. Now, with all the air recycled, there's more complaints.

That having been said, while I support the concept of Smokers' Interational Airways, I won't be flying that airline. Still, I wish them success.

[Just A Nobody]

Do you know, by chance, how many airlines there are?

There is now ONE, just ONE, on the other side of the world from where I live and therefore will probably never get to fly on one of their planes, that has made the CHOICE to offer flights FOR SMOKERS versus 100's, perhaps 1000's, of airlines that are NON-SMOKING.

[Proud2BAmerican]

I recall reading somewhere that prior to the advent of the non-smoking airlines, air quality on planes was far better on smoking flights. Had something to do with the fact that to compensate for the smokers, they had to pump in way more fresh, clean air. Since most flights are non-smoking, the air quality is, ironically, poorer on those flights now.

[Dan Nunn]

Unless you travel, beginning and end, outside the US, you won't be able to.

Don’t expect to see Smintair in the USA, however. U.S. laws ban smoking on flights to, from and within the USA.

[Proud2BAmerican]

I think that the recycled air is partly to blame for the feeling of fatigue that most people feel after completing a flight.

[Skibane]

We need an airline called "NRA Air".

No passenger would be allowed on the plane without a loaded handgun (although exceptions could be made for certain knives and carbines capable of fitting in the overhead storage compartments), the in-flight movies would consist of titles like "Red Dawn", "Team America", "True Grit", "Dirty Harry", "Monte Walsh" and "Lonesome Dove", and the flight attendants (all female, of course) would wear skimpy cowgirl costumes, complete with functional six-shooters. Naturally, every passenger would receive a complimentary copy of AMERICAN RIFLEMAN magazine.

[steveegg]

Only partly to blame? I'd say, at a minimum, "mostly".

[Proud2BAmerican]

Yeah, I think "mostly" is more accurate. But I think the generaly sedentary nature of flying has something to do with it as well; although come to think of it, I can recall feeling worn out after a 40-min. flight from O.C. to San Jose.

[Rhiannon]

Airlines used to allow smoking and had all those issues settled then. Fresher air and not so dry. Lets see if this airline makes $. and be a sucess. We all have said there ought to be choices. This airline is providing one.