American Notes AIRLINES

As airline executives know, where there's smoke, there's ire. Nonsmoking passengers complain about the poor air circulation on jetliners that forces them to inhale recycled smoke. Smokers feel like pariahs as their smoking sections keep dwindling. Taking the brunt of the bellyaching are flight attendants, who have to listen to both sides fume.

Northwest Airlines has apparently decided it is better to switch than fight: as of April 23, the fifth largest U.S. airline will be the first major carrier to ban smoking on all flights within North America. The ban goes beyond federal regulations, scheduled to take effect the same day, that will outlaw smoking on domestic flights of two hours or less. Northwest executives concede that the policy may drive away some puffing passengers, but they believe that many zealous nonsmokers will become new customers.