Smoking was phased out on airplanes over several decades, rather than banned in a single year, with most major routes going fully smoke‑free by around 2000 in the US and late 1990s in Europe.

Quick Scoop

  • In the 1960s–70s, smoking on planes was still normal, with only crude “smoking” and “non‑smoking” sections.
  • 1977: First real restriction in the US, when cigar and pipe smoking was prohibited on planes.
  • 1988 (US): Congress banned smoking on domestic flights under 2 hours, creating the first major federal in‑flight ban.
  • 1990 (US): Ban extended to almost all domestic flights up to 6 hours; only a few long flights were exempt.
  • 1995–1997: Many airlines and regions went further; Delta banned smoking on all flights in 1995, and the EU issued a broad ban on flights within member states in 1997.
  • 2000 (US): “Final nail in the coffin” – US law prohibited smoking on all domestic and international flights to, from, or within the United States.

Today, commercial passenger flights worldwide are effectively non‑smoking, though you still see ashtrays in lavatories because safety rules require a place to stub out any illicit cigarette.

Why it took so long

  • Growing evidence that secondhand smoke harms passengers and crew.
  • Pressure from flight attendants’ unions and public‑health groups.
  • Concerns from airlines about cleaning costs, cabin damage, and passenger complaints.

In other words, if you flew in the 1970s you could probably light up in your seat, in the 1980s you’d be pushed into “smoking rows,” in the 1990s it would depend on route and airline, and by about 2000 on any major US or European flight you were done. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.