Vaclav Havel Airport in Prague will not allow smoking from May 1st. The ban applies to the entire interior, including the existing smoke corners in the transit area. The smokers must make use only of the 14 reserved places in front of the building entrance.
“Thanks to this decision, Prague Airport meets the modern trend and responds to feedback from passengers. Travelering smokers will continue to have predetermined place in front of the building, “spokeswoman Marika Janouskova said in a press release.
According to her, Ruzyne airport is inspired, for example, by airports in the USA (more than 600 of them), the United Kingdom, Spain and Russia, where they have forbidden smoking.
“We believe that the number of non-smoking airports will increase gradually and we want to meet this modern healthy trend. At the same time, we are convinced that this decision will increase the quality and comfort during the stay at the airport for most passengers and employees, “said Václav Řehoř, Chairman of the Prague Airport.
Some passengers have complained about temporary smoking rooms. The airport also dealt with the necessary investment to build permanent smokers points in accordance with strict legislative requirements.
According to Janoušek, Prague Airport has already informed airlines and travel agencies of this change. “Passenger information will be available on the website www.prg.aero, on the Prague Airport’s social networking sites as well as on the airport terminals by means of navigation, terminal alerts or information messages,” the spokesperson said.
Director of the Letuška.cz ticket portal Josef Trejbal told CTK that smokers should be careful about further restrictions. For example, users of electronic cigarettes may have problems due to liquid fillings as well as their transportation. The volume of the individual fluids that passengers are able take to the aircraft, as a rule, may not exceed 100 milliliters. Restrictions were introduced in 2006 from concerns about the use of fluids for terrorist attacks.