DOT ruling bans e-cigarette use on flights
Monday, 03 Mar, 2016
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The Department of Transportation has issued updated rules to finally ban the use of ‘vaping’ on all flights over US soil.
The DOT said it considers e-cigarettes to be equivalent to traditional tobacco smoking, and issued the ruling to eliminate any confusion and possible future legal challenges.
"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," Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx said in a statement.
"The department took a practical approach to eliminate any confusion between tobacco cigarettes and e-cigarettes by applying the same restrictions to both."
It extends the existing in-flight smoking ban to ‘electronic cigars, pipes, and devices designed to look like everyday products like pens,’ the DOT said.
The DOT’s Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration also bans the carriage of battery-powered electronic smoking devices in checked bags.
This is due to fears e-cigarette lithium batteries are prone to overheating, causing a fire risk.
Although the devices are allowed in the cabin in carry-on bags, passengers are forbidden from charging the batteries in flight.
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Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
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