Our son worked for UAL at the SFO Maintenance Base years ago. He told us that the air cycle a/c system filters on the United planes were a difficult to maintain with smokers on the planes. Also to try and maintain some semblance of fresh air, the planes had to cycle through more outside air which cost fuel to create because it had to be compressed to maintain cabin pressurization. I also remember when the non-smokers were “treated to seats in the aft cabin and a cross-country flight was more like spending six hours in a bar. Smoking, one of life’s filthiest habits.
Compressed air is free on a jetliner. It’s called “bleed” air and comes directly from the engine turbine BEFORE the fuel is mixed in the jet. Does not cost fuel. I agree with the filtration system problems though!!
That's an interesting statement. It is my theory that much of the crazy behavior, some of which approaches psychotic behavior on airline flights, is because of oxygen deprivation, just because the airlines desire for squeezing the last penny out of every flight.
Actually there was a way smoking helped with maintenance. If there was a pinhole leak, the smoke would leave a small trail on the exterior, making them easier to spot.
That said, I am glad to see it going away.