U.S. Bans Smoking on Flights to and From Other Countries
Effective Sunday, smoking will be banned on all scheduled airline flights between the United States and other countries, the Transportation Department announced Friday.
The regulation bans smoking in the cabin or cockpit of flights by U.S. or foreign airlines.
The Federal Aviation Administration estimated that 97.7% of flights between the United States and other countries are already smoke-free--including all those on U.S. carriers--because of voluntary decisions by the airlines.
Smoking has been banned on domestic U.S. flights since 1990, but that rule did not cover international flights arriving in or leaving the country.
The government has been encouraging voluntary action by the airlines. The ban taking effect Sunday implements a part of an aviation overhaul act President Clinton signed April 5.
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