Salt Lake City International will phase out five smoking rooms within the airport this year, freeing up more than 1,200 square feet in the concourses for other purposes such as retail space, charging stations for electronics and extra passenger seating.
The six-month plan will begin on July 5 with the closure of the smoking room in Concourse D, and the final smoking room will permanently close on December 19. The current designs of the $1.8 billion Terminal Redevelopment Program do not include space for smoking rooms. The first phase of the Terminal Redevelopment Program is scheduled for completion in 2020.
“This is first and foremost an issue of public health, both for travelers and our airport employees, but it is also an issue of space concerns,” said Mayor Jackie Biskupski. “The current airport terminal is also beyond capacity, and every foot of available space should be used to the best advantage of the traveling public.”
SLC says that 27 of the 35 busiest U.S. airports are smoke-free, and more than 600 of the nation’s airports are smoke-free.
“We have thoroughly studied the issue of closing the smoking rooms,” said Airport Executive Director Maureen Riley. “While we expect a mild change in routine for some using the airport, we anticipate no major impact in passenger movement or convenience in taking this step.”
