Belgium Smoking Flights Update
Ryanair ponders smoking flights?
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1 April 2005
BRUSSELS – Chain-smokers who simply cannot sit on an airplane without lighting up may soon be able to do so on flights with budget airline Ryanair.
The carrier plans will conduct a pilot test of a “smokers’ class section” available to passengers at a somewhat elevated price, La Libre Belgique reported Friday.
The test will be carried out on flights using the airline”s Charleroi hub in southern Belgium.
“One must see first of all if there would be any economic advantage,” the outspoken head of the airline, Michael O’Leary, told the newspaper.
He said the airline estimates that as many as 12 percent of its passengers are against prohibiting smoking on flights.?
“This 12 percent represents for us the theoretical possibility to realise a profitable slot in the schedule for smokers’ flights,” he said.
He estimates this would be about one flight out of 30 to the airline’s most popular destinations.
During the month of April, Ryanair will make available certain airplanes for the test project at a slightly extra price.
O’Leary assured the newspaper that the planes are properly ventilated and that air filters will be changed after every flight.
And what about Ryanair”s non-smoking customers?
They will apparently be allowed on the smoking flights, but only after signing a disclaimer in which they agree not to hold the airline responsible for any health effects and relieve it of any potential legal liability.
O’Leary explained that one reason behind the pilot program is to appease the airline’s smoking employees.
“We will be able to reconcile their demands and our interests,” he is quoted as saying.
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Re: Ryanair ponders smoking flights
Dear Editor,
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I was pleased to read your story but am wondering if Belgium and Ryanair will really be able to stand up to the full wrath of the United States and its anti-smoking lobby. American anti-smokers have pushed the government agencies overseeing air travel to ban smoking not just on our own airplanes but on airplanes belonging to other countries as well.
The American dollar carries a lot of weight and Ryanair may find itself forbidden to fly to America.? It is my understanding that even Aeroflot, the official Russian airline, eventually had to cave in to American domination on this issue and ban smoking on its planes.
I applaud Ryanair for its courage and wish it well, but I hope it can stand up against the storm that will be thrown at it.
Michael J. McFadden
Author of ‘Dissecting Antismokers” Brains’
http://cantiloper.tripod.com
4424 Ludlow St.
Philadelphia, PA 19104
USA
215-386-8430
215-266-5083
April 4 – Introducing smoking flights -? A European budget airline will offer smoking flights on its most popular routes this month.? Described as an effort to bring back customers who have cut back on their airline travel because of smoking bans, the fares will be “at a slightly extra price.”
Finally, an airline that recognizes a lucrative business opportunity.? Smokers would pay more to be able to smoke, especially on the killer trans-oceanic flights that last for hours.? A plus for all travelers on such flights is that the air cabin quality would, despite the smoke, be much more healthy than that offered on nonsmoking flights.? The airlines admit they reduced air circulation as soon as they were ordered to forbid smoking.
