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