Airline specifically for smokers to begin flying
Greg Donohue
Issue date: 11/7/06 Section: Aeronautica
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While restrictions for the airline passenger continue to increase, one of them surprisingly will be lifted: smoking.
Smoker's International Airlines (SMINTAIR), a new airline based in Düsseldorf, Germany, is set to launch in 2007. The airline will operate on routes form Düsseldorf to Tokyo, Japan on two leased Boeing 747-400s. Both aircraft will only have two classes - first and business - in which all the passengers are permitted to smoke at their leisure.
SMINTAIR's founder, Alexander Schoppmann who has been smoking for over 40 years, has stated that the airline is not meant just for smoking. According to the new airline's website "SMINTAIR will treat its passengers like the guests of an international Grand Hotel. It is an obligation to SMINTAIR to bring back the exclusivity in flying encountered back in the 1960's and dearly missed by so many."
"I have been a traveler for the best part of 50 years," Schoppmann told CNN. "I have seen the level of service go down and the prices go up."
The German entrepreneur wishes to correct these perceived lacks of airline quality by offering his passengers with 138 seats (in an aircraft capable of holding 500) allowing around 70 inches of legroom for business class passengers and 80 inches for first class passengers, 15 inch PTV screens for each passenger, internet connections, telephone service, gourmet food such as caviar, merchandise and of course, fine Cuban cigars. Other unique features include fashionable a la mode stewardess uniforms (which will be redesigned every two years) and jewelry for sale.
While many travelers might be hesitant to fly on an airline that allows a habit that has been banned for over 25 years, the airline still strongly encourages non-smokers to fly with them.
"Non-smokers," SMINTAIR's website adds, "will find the cabin air more refreshing than on any other flight with any other airline, as SMINTAIR adds fresh outside air to the conditioning system! This is more expensive, as it burns more fuel, but it is seen as an additional privilege to ours guests."
SMINTAIR is certainly voyaging into uncharted airspace, but they are not the first. The Great American Smoker's Club attempted to make private, smoke permitting flights between Houston and Dallas, but failed to get approval from the FAA. A Florida based Smokers Express did not develop enough funds to begin flights.
Business class seats will cost around $8,300 while first class will offer seats at $12,800 (both are roundtrip prices).
"It's not so much the idea of letting someone smoke, it's more the idea of letting people who are coming on board, who are making decisions every day, they don't want to be told off and we are giving them a feeling of being on a luxury airline," Schoppmann added.
The airline is set to begin its first flights on March 26, 2007.
Smoker's International Airlines (SMINTAIR), a new airline based in Düsseldorf, Germany, is set to launch in 2007. The airline will operate on routes form Düsseldorf to Tokyo, Japan on two leased Boeing 747-400s. Both aircraft will only have two classes - first and business - in which all the passengers are permitted to smoke at their leisure.
SMINTAIR's founder, Alexander Schoppmann who has been smoking for over 40 years, has stated that the airline is not meant just for smoking. According to the new airline's website "SMINTAIR will treat its passengers like the guests of an international Grand Hotel. It is an obligation to SMINTAIR to bring back the exclusivity in flying encountered back in the 1960's and dearly missed by so many."
"I have been a traveler for the best part of 50 years," Schoppmann told CNN. "I have seen the level of service go down and the prices go up."
The German entrepreneur wishes to correct these perceived lacks of airline quality by offering his passengers with 138 seats (in an aircraft capable of holding 500) allowing around 70 inches of legroom for business class passengers and 80 inches for first class passengers, 15 inch PTV screens for each passenger, internet connections, telephone service, gourmet food such as caviar, merchandise and of course, fine Cuban cigars. Other unique features include fashionable a la mode stewardess uniforms (which will be redesigned every two years) and jewelry for sale.
While many travelers might be hesitant to fly on an airline that allows a habit that has been banned for over 25 years, the airline still strongly encourages non-smokers to fly with them.
"Non-smokers," SMINTAIR's website adds, "will find the cabin air more refreshing than on any other flight with any other airline, as SMINTAIR adds fresh outside air to the conditioning system! This is more expensive, as it burns more fuel, but it is seen as an additional privilege to ours guests."
SMINTAIR is certainly voyaging into uncharted airspace, but they are not the first. The Great American Smoker's Club attempted to make private, smoke permitting flights between Houston and Dallas, but failed to get approval from the FAA. A Florida based Smokers Express did not develop enough funds to begin flights.
Business class seats will cost around $8,300 while first class will offer seats at $12,800 (both are roundtrip prices).
"It's not so much the idea of letting someone smoke, it's more the idea of letting people who are coming on board, who are making decisions every day, they don't want to be told off and we are giving them a feeling of being on a luxury airline," Schoppmann added.
The airline is set to begin its first flights on March 26, 2007.
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