Smoking on presidential flight

Smoking on presidential flight

Reading the article about the air trip by President Susilo
Bambang Yudhoyono to Busan, South Korea (The Jakarta Post, Nov.
18, Traditional Javanese snacks get presidential thumbs up), I
was very surprised and amazed at the same time to read that
smoking is allowed on board the Garuda plane used by the
President.

Traveling by air quite often myself, but so far never with
Garuda, I do not recall any international airline that allows
passengers to smoke during a flight. They always say "Smoking is
prohibited throughout the journey" (or something like that, I
don't remember the exact wording).

I became very concerned as the particular Garuda flight
mentioned in the article was carrying our national leader. I am
pretty sure that Pak Susilo himself does not smoke. In this
respect, can't the assistants, officials, or guards, or whoever
they are who smoke, refrain from smoking for a while? Our
President is on board, people. Come on!

Furthermore, if smoking is standard on Garuda flights, I will
never take Garuda on my future trips. I would kindly ask Garuda
to explain this.

IRMA F. SUMARYANTO, Tangerang, Banten