Blackpool Airport goes smoke-free

Passengers flying out of Blackpool Airport were forced to stub out their cigarettes on Friday after staff announced that the building was going smoke-free.

Exactly a month before the introduction of the nationwide smoking ban, which will see people forbidden from lighting up in all public enclosed places, smoking at Blackpool's Terminal building has now come to an end.

Staff spent the weeks before the introduction date ensuring no-smoking signs were on full view to remind passengers of the airport's new status.

Stephen Wiltshire, the airport's operations director, said: "We hope that by taking an early initiative ahead of the ban on July 1st, we are encouraging both passengers and employees to adhere to and introduce the necessary changes.

"It will also help us to overcome any challenges before the regulations become law."

Blackpool Airport now flies to 25 European destinations and has been dubbed the "gateway to the north-west".

Last year saw a £2 million redevelopment project of the main terminal building which means that Blackpool now has the capacity to welcome up to two million passengers every year.

Posted by Graham Greenaway on the 04/06/2007 12:37:07
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