Travel Suvarnabhumi Airport to Introduce Prototype Indoor Smoking Rooms by End of July

[Georgealbert]

 

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

 

 

 

[Emdog]

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?