WASHINGTON Reuter: The American Medical Association (AMA) joined the National Academy of Sciences in calling for a ban on all smoking on airlines but the airline industry disagreed.
The Academy last month said cigarette smoke in aircraft cabins was a potential health hazard especially to crew members and frequent fliers because of poor cabin ventilation and the AMA. Said it agree with those findings.
Cigarette smoking now is restricted to the rear of the aircraft cabins and cigar and pipe smoking is prohibited.
“The elimination of smoking aboard the aircraft would improve the health wellbeing and safety of airline passengers and crew” the AMA said in a statement at a hearing of the Senate Commerce Committee on Airliner Cabin Air Quality.
“Tobacco smoke is the most frequent source of complaint about aircraft air quality” the AMA said.
Gabriel Phillips Executive vice President of the Air Transport Association (ATA) which represents major U.S. airlines said more study was needed on the effects of smoking on nonsmokers.
He said suggestions to ban smoking on flights of two hours or less would be difficult to enforce and would discriminate against airlines which mainly make short ziutem.
Article extracted from this publication >> September 26, 1986
