Delta in Line to Be First to Ban Smoking on All of Its Flights

Delta Air Lines is banning smoking on its flights across the Pacific, making it the first U.S carrier to forbid smoking on all flights.

Atlanta-based Delta, the nation’s third-largest carrier, said Monday that it will extend its ban on smoking to its transpacific flights effective Jan. 1. The airline had earlier announced it would ban smoking on all flights across the Atlantic, also effective Jan. 1.

Other U.S. airlines have also banned smoking on some flights, but so far none had instituted a ban on all of them. Smoking is banned on all domestic commercial flights within the United States, and Congress is considering legislation to ban smoking on any flight that begins or ends in the United States.

“This action further strengthens our company’s longstanding commitment to provide our customers with superior customer service,” said Robert W. Coggin, Delta’s senior vice president of marketing.