File photo for reference only

 

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has directed the transport and health ministries to establish standardised smoking areas at Thailand's airports. This decision comes as part of efforts to enhance the traveller experience in Thailand, a major regional aviation hub, while protecting the health of non-smokers.

 

Government spokesman Jirayu Huangsub announced the directive following Wednesday's cabinet meeting. The prime minister emphasised that these areas must align with international standards, as implemented in airports globally. By setting up designated smoking zones, Thailand aims to cater to the diverse needs of its many passengers while maintaining a comfortable environment.

 

Recognising Thailand's status as a leading centre for aviation, travel, and tourism, the prime minister's initiative ensures that airports offer separate smoking spaces equipped with appropriate ventilation systems. This approach not only caters to smokers but also safeguards non-smokers from secondhand smoke exposure.

 

The transport and public health ministries have been tasked with allocating standardised smoking areas and revising relevant regulations to support this initiative. The creation of these controlled environments is expected to contribute positively to the airport experience for both domestic and international travellers, balancing convenience with health considerations.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-06-04

 

 

But vaping is still bad. 

As someone who smoked for decades, I was only mildly affected by the removal of airport smoking rooms around the world. 

This is a step backward. 

How utterly stupid is this? They closed the smoking rooms which, for anyone that went inside one, would understand the dreadful toxicity, which permeated the surrounding area....now to be re-opened!

Not going to go down well in todays modern era, where smoking is frowned upon!

I'm not sure if this is a revolutionary or a counter-revolutionary decision.

 

Either way, kudos to the PM for pi$$ing flying in the face of conformity and political correctness. 

 

 

Thank you Thailand

it appears that the PM is concentrating on the more really important issues facing Thailand.

What a dumb idea. 

Does it include cannabis?

Super good. It used to be such a great moment (back when the smoking rooms were still easily accessible) to enjoy a nice smoke after a long flight. A double feeling of ecstasy. You were back in Thailand, and you could reinforce that wonderful feeling with a good cigarette.

8 minutes ago, peter zwart said:

Super good. It used to be such a great moment (back when the smoking rooms were still easily accessible) to enjoy a nice smoke after a long flight. A double feeling of ecstasy. You were back in Thailand, and you could reinforce that wonderful feeling with a good cigarette.

 

To the contrary, nothing was more disgusting to me than a cigarette in an airport smoking room with tar-stained walls and overflowing ashtrays.

I always waited until I was outside to light up. 

Pandering to the Chinese, Russian and  Arab tourist markets, where smoking rates are still high. Yes Germany and Japan still have smoking rooms.

The PM is going against the Thai MoH and ignoring the reason why the  smoking areas were removed. (They were poorly vented, dirty  and facilitated an unhealthy behavior. Too many Chinese were spitting into the  garbage can or on the floor.Staff did not want to work  as cleaners because the air was so bad.)

There is no need for a smoking room at BKK. There should be a smoking area at the terminal outside. People can smoke before or after a flight in the designated outside area.

5 minutes ago, madone said:

 

To the contrary, nothing was more disgusting to me than a cigarette in an airport smoking room with tar-stained walls and overflowing ashtrays.

I always waited until I was outside to light up. 

So whats the problem. You dont like to use those rooms?, dont use them. Instead you could also be happy for the people that do like them.

5 minutes ago, madone said:

 

To the contrary, nothing was more disgusting to me than a cigarette in an airport smoking room with tar-stained walls and overflowing ashtrays.

I always waited until I was outside to light up. 

Singapore had it right years ago, although likely now gone.  The open air areas on the roof.  Gardens, swimming pool, bars.  Good enough to miss a flight for.

I heard smoking ciggies 'll kill ya.

 

Is that true?

good news, bring back to smoking rooms.

4 hours ago, ChrisY1 said:

Not going to go down well in todays modern era, where smoking is frowned upon!

It WILL go down well with those idiots who do not mind being frowned upon.

Will these rooms be available for vapers and stoners?

Bringing these rooms back should not affect non-smoking passengers one bit.

What did they ever do with all those tiny phone booths when cellphones took over?

 

Seriously, I don't smoke but I do support nice, well ventilated smoking areas for those who do.  I've occasionally spent some time in them when my traveling companions fed their demon. 

 

Happy travelers come back...

 

Edit:  But I do admit to being cheezed off when they put enough comfy seats in the smoking areas and not nearly enough in the non-smoking areas.  That's my main beef about Swampy.  Not nearly enough seats in departure, upstream or downstream of security.

 

I'm a Smoker and I can assure you after a 6-7 hour flight the 1st thing you want is a ciggie. Bahrain has one of the best smoking areas I've come across plenty of room well ventilated and a guy floating around emptying the ash trays regular. Bkk has only a smoking area outside again after a long flight for a smoke there, you walk out into an oven.

There's no way to completely seal off the smell from the outside. And it stinks!

Live and let live.  If you don't smoke or don't like smoke, then don't enter the smoking rooms.  

I realise it's a powerful drug /addiction and accept smoking rooms will help users, but consider a double door system /airlock to separate those areas. I dont mind what others choose to put in their lungs, but please don't inflict it on other people. 

Whats really needed is to bring back smoking on airplanes....If I want to smoke a pack of cigs on a flight I should have every right too.....Dont violate my rights..

 

Smoking is good and good for you...

Gas chambers.  Great idea! 

1 hour ago, sstuff3 said:

Live and let live.  If you don't smoke or don't like smoke, then don't enter the smoking rooms.  

You can unfortunately smell them for 100 meters away. 

Good job we have a details-oriented PM to micro-manage important stuff. 

 

One wonders if the following had any bearing

 

"With an overall annual consumption of over 2 million tons, China is not only the Largest Tobacco-Consuming Country in Asia, but also the Country with the Highest Tobacco Consumption in the world. According to the WHO, around one in every three cigarettes in the world is smoked in China and more than half of the country’s adult men are current tobacco smokers."

29 minutes ago, connda said:

Gas chambers.  Great idea! 

 

Thanks, exactly what I thought. If the smoke extraction system fails, then these rooms are potential gas chambers!

Being a non-smoker I shall give them a wide berth. 

With all the problems facing Thailand, the PM has time to devote attention to this issue?

4 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Singapore had it right years ago, although likely now gone.  The open air areas on the roof.  Gardens, swimming pool, bars.  Good enough to miss a flight for.

Exactly, BKK did actually have that in the garden off the Miracle lounge in D concourse, with a designated smoking area away from others, the perfect solution, that went along with the smoking rooms.

It could have been a good money spinner, folks who did want a smoke badly pay to access the lounge and go outside to smoke, the lounge makes money and the smokers get their last smoke in before the flight without polluting others, win win!!

8 hours ago, blaze master said:

What a dumb idea. 

 

I see 4 smokers down voted my comment.

I think it's funny as fok that in almost every early comment in this thread calling the idea stupid, the same 4 smokers have given a thumbs down.

Even at my most addicted (2 packs a day by the end), I could see smoking rooms had had their day and benefited nobody.