The Nation - News from April 24, 1988

A nationwide ban against smoking on airline flights of two hours or less within the United States went into effect under a new law passed by Congress. Violators can be fined up to $1,000. Northwest Airlines, based in Minneapolis, went a step further and banned smoking on all its domestic flights. In general, smokers protested and nonsmokers cheered. A dozen protesters at Washington’s National Airport, many smoking and chanting “Equal fares, equal rights,” wore cardboard signs that read: “Fight for rights in-flight,” and “Smokers have rights too.” Several airlines handed out mints and gum to passengers to ease the jitters of not smoking. Continental Airlines planned to distribute more than 430,000 pieces of chewing gum. Southwest Airlines said it was handing out 200,000 lollipops.