Non-smoking flights as of June

JAKARTA (JP): The government has banned smoking on domestic flights from June 1, Director General of Air Transportation Zainudin Sikado said yesterday.

"Smoking should be banned on all domestic flights of two hours or less," he said, adding that the new ruling would be enforced to comply with the International Civil Aviation Organization's nonsmoking decree.

Smoking on international flights has not been banned but the government has urged airlines to ban smoking on flights between two and 14 hours long, he said.

Zainudin said the new law would not affect airline profits by reducing the number of smoking passengers.

Cathay Pacific and Singapore Airlines have banned smoking but their profits kept increasing, he said. (02)