U.S. Department of Transportation Bans Use of Electronic Cigarettes on Commercial Flights

The U.S. Department of Transport has banned the use of electronic cigarettes on commercial flights.

This applies to all scheduled flights of U.S. and foreign carriers involving transportation in, to, and from the U.S.

The ban applies to the use of electronic cigarettes in all forms, including but not limited to electronic cigars, pipes, and devices designed to look like everyday products such as pens.

The DOT also extended the ban on smoking, including electronic cigarettes, to all charter (nonscheduled) flights of U.S. carriers and foreign air carriers where a flight attendant is a required crewmember.

“This final rule is important because it protects airline passengers from unwanted exposure to electronic cigarette aerosol that occurs when electronic cigarettes are used onboard airplanes,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary, Anthony Foxx. “The Department took a practical approach to eliminate any confusion between tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes by applying the same restrictions to both.”

The DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) previously addressed safety concerns regarding the transport of electronic cigarettes. In October 2015, PHMSA issued an interim final rule prohibiting passengers from carrying battery-powered portable electronic smoking devices in checked baggage and prohibiting them from charging these devices or batteries on board aircraft.

The ban does not include the use of medical devices such as nebulizers.

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