You're not allowed to vape on airplanes anymore
Want to vape on your next flight? TOO BAD.
The Department of Transportation on Wednesday finalized a rule that prohibits e-cigarettes on U.S. flights, including those arriving from or departing to foreign countries.
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“This final rule is important because it protects airline passengers from unwanted exposure to aerosol fumes that occur when electronic cigarettes are used onboard airplanes,” said Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx.
This puts e-cigarettes in the same category as regular cigarettes, which have been banned on domestic flights since 1988. While many airlines had already adopted policies that prohibited using the electronic devices on flights, Wednesday's final rule makes it official.
“The department took a practical approach to eliminate any confusion between tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes by applying the same restrictions to both," Foxx said.
In announcing the ban, the department cited concerns about harmful health effects of e-cigs.
Electronic cigarettes cause concern because studies have shown that e-cigarette aerosol can contain a number of harmful chemicals. While further study is needed to fully understand the risks, the Department believes that a precautionary approach is best.
Those concerns were not shared by Rep. Duncan Hunter, Republican of California, who vaped during a congressional committee meeting last month to argue that vaping is safe and should be allowed on planes.
Despite his demonstration, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee wound up adopting an amendment to ban vaping on planes.
E-cigarettes have also raised safety concerns because of their lithium ion batteries.
The batteries, common in so many modern electronics, have the potential to explode and start fires. Airlines have banned cargo shipments of lithium-ion batteries, as well as extra batteries in passengers' checked luggage, although individual batteries and electronics are allowed.
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