Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

The Department of Disease Control has revealed detailed plans for new prototype indoor smoking rooms at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport. The move comes in response to repeated incidents of passengers illegally smoking in airport restrooms and other unauthorised areas, raising concerns about second-hand smoke exposure and public safety.

 

Dr Chayanan Sithibus, Director of the Tobacco Product Control Committee Office at the Ministry of Public Health, confirmed that two locations within the airport have been approved for the new facilities. The smoking rooms will be installed in the SAT-1 satellite terminal (1 room) and on the 4th floor of the main international departure terminal (3 rooms). Outdoor smoking zones will remain in designated areas on the 2nd floor, outside the main terminal.

 

Dr Chayanan explained that the initiative is aimed at accommodating transit passengers who are unable to leave the airport between connecting flights. “Previously, smokers were forced to seek out private areas such as toilets, which is illegal and harmful to others,” he said. “By creating these controlled environments, we are prioritising safety and reducing public exposure to second-hand smoke.”

 

The design of the prototype rooms will follow international best practices, functioning similarly to infectious disease isolation units. Each room will feature a double-door entry system, negative air pressure, and a high-efficiency ventilation system to prevent smoke leakage. No specific size has been mandated, but the technical standards for air quality management are strict.

 

The smoking rooms are expected to be completed by the end of July, followed by a safety assessment and trial period in August. Feedback from this pilot will be reviewed in a future meeting of the National Tobacco Products Control Committee.

 

The Ministry of Public Health has also advised that all future airport construction projects include designated indoor smoking areas that comply with these new safety and ventilation standards.

 

“The Minister of Public Health has been clear, any smoking area must be entirely safe for non-smokers,” said Dr Chayanan. “This includes ensuring that second-hand smoke is fully contained and eliminated through proper design and engineering.”

 

The initiative marks a shift in Thailand’s approach to public smoking, balancing public health concerns with practical solutions for air travellers.

 

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from khaosod 2025-07-20

 

 

 

I quit smoking 3 or 4 yrs ago, so didn't know they shut down smoking rooms.... why do they need a "prototype"? They used to have smoking rooms. Just fire those up again. Why reinvent the wheel?

why not look at how Singapore handles the problem.

It would be a relatively easy fix and works wonderfully.

11 hours ago, Emdog said:

I quit smoking 3 or 4 yrs ago, so didn't know they shut down smoking rooms.... why do they need a "prototype"? They used to have smoking rooms. Just fire those up again. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

Higher standards.  The old ones didn't have the "double-door entry system, negative air pressure, and a high-efficiency ventilation system" that is now specified.  There's already an outdoor one on the departures level.

12 hours ago, moose7117 said:

why not look at how Singapore handles the problem.

It would be a relatively easy fix and works wonderfully.

They could easily talk to China about this and probably buy some used ones. China used to have these in their airports. Efficient portable rooms big enough to accomodate a few smokers at a time. If I recall they stopped doing it but am sure they still have the rooms they could sell at increased rates to Thailand. 

If the room is full lock the doors

They will be asking for Smoking rooms on the Beach next  where its illegal to smoke so im told 

I've seen smoking rooms at airports before. If the smokers don't already have lung cancer, by the time they leave the room they will.

.....and Don Muang?

9 hours ago, treetops said:

 

Higher standards.  The old ones didn't have the "double-door entry system, negative air pressure, and a high-efficiency ventilation system" that is now specified.  There's already an outdoor one on the departures level.

Makes you want to laugh. The irony of it all. "Yes, Guv, it's a death chamber but the new one is a healthy one". 

21 hours ago, Emdog said:

I quit smoking 3 or 4 yrs ago, so didn't know they shut down smoking rooms.... why do they need a "prototype"? They used to have smoking rooms. Just fire those up again. Why reinvent the wheel?

The original wheel was made from solid wood... it's called evolution...

modern design, materials and equipment?

WHY? If you can't be at the airport for a couple of hours and not smoke you have a problem. These smoking rooms always leak smoke into the hallways. If you have to have them put them far away from normal places. Make the smokers work to get to them. 

Note they are talking about new "prototype" smoking rooms.

Suvarnabhumi actually opened basic smoking rooms again last April. A post on the TAT Facebook page 12 weeks ago showed a small room, no tables or chairs, "frosted glass" windows and an open door (presumably a sliding glass door ?). It noted that smokers were either standing or squatting in the room while smoking.

Suvarnabhumi actually closed it's smoking rooms in 2019 but it seems the Chinese are upset about that (being one of the heaviest smoking nations on the planet).

Just last year, The National Tobacco Control Committee rejected a proposal to build smoking rooms inside Suvarnabhumi Airport.

However - it seems the decision to put the smoking rooms back in came from - the Prime Minister herself.
In a "directive" to "align Thai airport facilities with global standards."

And if you search for what the "global standards" are - you'll see this:

"The global standard is shifting towards smoke-free environments in airports, with a greater emphasis on protecting public health. 

As awareness of the risks of secondhand smoke increases and technologies improve, more airports are expected to adopt smoke-free policies in the future. "

Another reason airports are happy to close the smoking rooms (aside from the obnoxious smell) was the cost of having to keep them clean and ventilated (so the smoke-filled air doesn't end up in the main ventilation system).

One article I read this morning says they (Suvarnabhumi) re-opened the smoking rooms to cut down on the amount of people smoking "illegally" (i.e. in bathrooms or other areas). 

Note that 4 of the 50 busiest airports in the world are located in China and all 4 are "smoke free".

However, most airports in Asia and Europe (and the Middle East) are not "smoke free" but they are trending more towards "smoke free" than the other way.

Except places like Thailand it seems.

 

Chinese, Arabs and Indians love to smoke... Keeping the tourist happy 

1 hour ago, Formaleins said:

.....and Don Muang?

He can smoke anywhere! 

The move comes in response to repeated incidents of passengers illegally smoking in airport restrooms and other unauthorised areas, raising concerns about second-hand smoke exposure and public safety.

 

The answer is not to create more stench in a confined space, the answer is catch them smack them with a extra large fine, 

If they do build these stench rooms what will they do about having to sit next to the obnoxious smelling person for hours on the plane?

 

Mods edit - do not post in all bold @jwl53

Well, these filthy smokers can gut it out on long hall flights.  Why not for a few hours in the airport?  Ban it, noone wants to smell the stinking remnants and BO mouth.

1 hour ago, actonion said:

They will be asking for Smoking rooms on the Beach next  where its illegal to smoke so im told 

 

 

Surprisingly, they do exist;-

 

 

Im not sure what size these rooms will be, but they could insert small Ozone generators maybe 500 mg, that will kill the smell of smoke, 

This is too funny.  In the USA I don't think smoking has been permitted in airports for decades.  I think I saw smoking rooms in Japan in February and I was stunned.  Nothing like Thailand helping the health of its citizens and visitors.

Bring back smoking on the plane as well, just to piss off the militant non-smokers, 555

32 minutes ago, Showtime said:

This is too funny.  In the USA I don't think smoking has been permitted in airports for decades.  I think I saw smoking rooms in Japan in February and I was stunned.  Nothing like Thailand helping the health of its citizens and visitors.

Not funny at all. Today you have to walk through clouds of smelly smoke, when you walk from the taxi to the terminal, since the heavy smokers are standing right outside every entrance of the airport. I quit smoking 30 years ago and think that smoking should be banned in all public places.

1 hour ago, riverhigh said:

Makes you want to laugh. The irony of it all. "Yes, Guv, it's a death chamber but the new one is a healthy one". 

 

I'm sure the thought process is to help maintain the health of the non-smokers by not subjecting them to second hand smoke.

On 7/20/2025 at 2:06 AM, Georgealbert said:

The move comes in response to repeated incidents of passengers illegally smoking in airport restrooms and other unauthorised areas, raising concerns about second-hand smoke exposure and public safety.

I very much appreciate this altruistic concern for the public health. I'm sure that the newly appointed Mr. Theeraj Athanavanich to AOT's Board of Directors since Jan 24 2025, has nothing to do with this move, especially since his other position is Chairman of Tobacco Authority of Thailand. It's really all just a coincidence...

 

Mr. Theeraj Athanavanich  Director  Member of the Remuneration Committee

https://www.airportthai.co.th/en/home-en/about-aot/board-of-directors-2/board-of-directors/#

Hard to get figures, but AQI of 22 looks like equal to 1 cigarette. The air pollution in Thailand is murderous, literally, with numbers above 100 typical. If they do all the air scrubbing and what have you for smoking rooms, they just might end up having cleaner air than outside the terminal!

 

Like I said, I don't smoke any more, but it still irks me the discrimination against smokers that puritain types put them on the level of Jeffrey Epstein. They are using a legal product in the intended manner... personally I'd rather be addicted to nicotine than the internet/social media

But that' just me

23 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Bring back smoking on the plane as well, just to piss off the militant non-smokers, 555

We are a bigger force than the smokers

4 minutes ago, Emdog said:

Hard to get figures, but AQI of 22 looks like equal to 1 cigarette. The air pollution in Thailand is murderous, literally, with numbers above 100 typical. If they do all the air scrubbing and what have you for smoking rooms, they just might end up having cleaner air than outside the terminal!

 

Like I said, I don't smoke any more, but it still irks me the discrimination against smokers that puritain types put them on the level of Jeffrey Epstein. They are using a legal product in the intended manner... personally I'd rather be addicted to nicotine than the internet/social media

But that' just me

And I prefer not to breathe other peoples cancer, emphysema causing chemicals, so who should have more rights.

34 minutes ago, Trippy said:

Bring back smoking on the plane as well, just to piss off the militant non-smokers, 555

Them were the days when you could have a smoke on the plane, 

17 minutes ago, Aussie999 said:

And I prefer not to breathe other peoples cancer, emphysema causing chemicals, so who should have more rights.

I doubt you’ll “catch cancer” by passing by a smoking room at the airport for a possible duration of 10 seconds.  Get realistic and put things in perspective.  A little tolerance on both sides would be nice!  

It's a good move, for the smokers.

If they want to sit in one of them rooms full of smoke,  go ahead.

It does not affect the non smokers, so what's the big deal. 

Oh the outrage.