According to the technician, smoking by people in unapproved areas poses a health and safety risk.
PUBLISHED: 7 Feb 2025 at 17: 51
Airports of Thailand Plc ( AoT ) has requested that the Ministry of Public Health relax its regulations and allow smoking in the six international airports that the business runs.
Kirati Kijmanawat, president of AoT, stated that the move was made in response to concerns from passengers, especially those who had long lines between flights on connecting flights.
According to Mr. Kirati, there have also been reports of tobacco violations in non-smoking places like washrooms and instances where passengers have gladly paid fines to fumes. This adversely affects non-smokers and the general air quality inside the terminals.
He added that cigarette smoking can occasionally cause fire alarm systems to activate, which made the situation even more complicated.
Due to these factors, AoT and the appropriate authorities have been asked to designate smoking areas in rider terminals.
AoT, which runs six big airports, including Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, and Hat Yai, is asking the health ministry to update its rules to help the flights to offer indoor smoking areas, according to Mr. Kirati.
According to him, the shift is intended to enhance the vacation experience, improve the health of the people ‘ surroundings, and lower the risk of fire hazards.
The airport operator, who is listed on SET, also thinks that this action will prevent possible damage to the nation’s tourism reputation and safeguard people ‘ rights, especially those on lengthy connecting flights who cannot leave the terminal for time.
The organization has written a formal request to the director-general of the Department of Disease Control ( DDC ), who is also the secretary of the tobacco control national committee. It is requesting changes to the agency’s regulations to make it possible to use restrooms in aircraft stations.
The tobacco-control commission has agreed to set up a working party to examine the circumstances surrounding the problem.
The council plans to look into whether smoking areas outside stations can be reached by an electric train in one moment, according to Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsuthin.
He added that the council needs to understand the true issues AoT faces before making any decisions, even though he privately thinks airports may remain smoke-free.
Members of the DDC have visited the airport in Suvarnabhumi to look into potential locations for tobacco rooms.
Mr Kirati noted that the present rules, which simply permits smoking regions outside stations, does not coincide with the demands of passengers. Some leading flights global, including Changi in Singapore, Narita in Japan and Istanbul Airport, give inside smoking areas.
Prior to this, Naowarat Charoenka of the Thai Health Academy of the National Health Foundation warned that Thailand’s efforts to uphold global airport security and excellent standards may be hampered by the presence of smoking rooms in airports.
She cited the expanding global trend of flights becoming completely smoke-free, a fad that Thailand would reverse if it reintroduced smoking areas.