Why Do Airplanes Still Feature Ashtrays?

In the so-called golden age of air travel, airplane cabins were filled with well-dressed passengers alongside clouds of cigarette smoke. Despite the presence of smoking sections, the smoke would often drift through the curtains (if they existed) into nonsmoking zones. Today, the landscape has changed significantly, with a complete ban on smoking in the cabin. So, if smoking has been outlawed on flights for over thirty years, why do ashtrays still remain on planes? Here’s an explanation of their continued existence and the consequences of smoking on modern flights.

What’s the purpose of ashtrays on airplanes?

Despite smoking being banned for more than 30 years, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) maintains a written rule to address ongoing violations. The agency mandates that there be signs and repeated announcements to remind passengers of the no-smoking policy and to discourage them from extinguishing cigarettes in the bathroom—this rule was established due to frequent fire incidents in lavatories.

According to the same FAA directive, ashtrays must be present on aircraft. The reasoning is that while ashtrays at every seat are no longer necessary (they were once built into armrests), a designated place to safely dispose of a cigarette must exist should someone choose to smoke illegally. Trash bins and bathroom containers are inadequate because they pose a fire hazard if the cigarette is not fully extinguished.

Take a look around on your next flight, and you’ll typically find ashtrays positioned near the lavatory door—this is a stipulation for new or renovated aircraft. Why that spot? Well, when people choose to smoke on a plane, it’s usually in the bathroom. This isn’t the wisest choice, as nearly every safety announcement reminds us that aircraft lavatories are equipped with smoke detectors that will alert the crew.

In fact, the presence of ashtrays is so crucial that if they are damaged or nonfunctional, the aircraft cannot take off until they are repaired. In aviation terminology, they are classified as a “no-go” item (though there are exceptions for planes with multiple restrooms and ashtrays).

Is smoking on an airplane truly a fire risk?

Absolutely! There have been numerous instances where the glow of a cigarette has endangered an entire aircraft. In the early 1970s, a fire caused by a cigarette in the lavatory is thought to have resulted in the crash of a Varig flight from Rio de Janeiro to Paris, claiming 123 lives. Additionally, in 2016, an EgyptAir flight went down in the Mediterranean after it was suspected that a pilot was smoking. Similarly, a lit cigarette contributed to the crash of a US Bangla flight near Kathmandu in 2018.

When was the smoking ban introduced on flights?

The journey to eliminate cigarettes from airplanes has been a gradual one. Although airline staff had voiced concerns about smoke for years (along with other issues), Congress implemented its first ban in 1988—but it applied only to domestic flights of two hours or less. By 1990, the ban expanded to include flights lasting six hours or less. Even then, pilots were still allowed to smoke due to fears that withdrawal symptoms could pose safety risks.

In the United States, Delta became the first airline to voluntarily prohibit smoking on all its international flights in 1995. Then, in 2000, smoking was officially banned on all flights within the U.S. and on those to and from the country. There is no single international authority regulating all airlines and flights, but today, nearly all carriers have a complete ban on smoking—including vaping and e-cigarettes, which were largely banned in 2016 due to concerns that lithium batteries could overheat and ignite a fire.

To ensure safety and avoid trouble, refrain from any form of smoking, as the FAA can impose substantial fines of up to $25,000, along with penalties from other international bodies and governments. Even interfering with a smoke detector can lead to fines of up to $2,000 on U.S. airlines. In January 2021, a passenger on an Allegiant Air flight faced a $16,700 fine from the FAA for allegedly smoking in the lavatory. Additionally, a $10,300 fine was proposed for a passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight who was accused of using an e-cigarette that same year.

Do people still attempt to smoke on airplanes?

More often than you might expect. Polrit D., a flight attendant with a major U.S. airline (who requested anonymity), shared a story with Dinogo about a passenger on a recent flight from Brussels who emerged from the lavatory holding a lit cigarette and tried to toss it into the trash. The crew member quickly intervened, extinguishing it in the ashtray. Fortunately for the passenger, the smoke detector didn’t go off, and the captain opted to issue just a warning instead of a hefty fine.

According to the flight attendant, it’s quite common for passengers to mistake the ashtray for the lavatory door handle. He notes that people often try to grab various closet and cabinet handles, believing they are the bathroom door. This mix-up happens so frequently that some individuals have completely broken the ashtray off in their attempts to open the door.

The headlines are filled with similar stories. In January 2021, a passenger aboard an Allegiant Air flight faced a fine of $16,700 from the FAA for allegedly smoking in the lavatory. Additionally, a $10,300 fine was proposed for an Alaska Airlines passenger accused of using an e-cigarette.

Just a few months ago, in June 2023, a man was caught smoking on a Ryanair flight; he was publicly called out to the entire plane and then escorted off by police when the flight arrived in Manchester, England.

In March 2023, passengers on an Air India flight headed for Delhi reported the smell of cigarette smoke coming from the bathroom. The offender was apprehended and turned over to the authorities upon landing.

And the incidents keep happening: Various videos of individuals smoking on planes have gone viral in recent years, including a man on Spirit Airlines in 2019 and a woman on Spirit in 2021.

Vaping has led to its own set of issues: According to the FAA, in 2022, electronic smoking devices topped the list of lithium battery incidents related to smoke, fire, or extreme heat on planes. They even created a useful infographic on preventing vape battery explosions.

To steer clear of any hassles, fines, or potential explosions, please do yourself and your fellow travelers a favor—hold off on smoking until you’ve exited the aircraft.