AirAsia no longer selling duty-free cigarettes on flights

AirAsia Group Chief Executive Officer Tony Fernandes. AFP

PETALING JAYA, Malaysia — AirAsia will stop selling cigarettes on its flights, says its chief executive officer (CEO) Tony Fernandes.

“I’m super proud to announce that @airasia will stop selling cigarettes on duty-free.

“Coupled with all our offices being smoke-free and incentivizing staff to stop smoking with better insurance, we are putting our money where our mouth is.

“I urge all governments in Asean to STOP SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES. Look how much we spend on health-related smoking issues,” he said in a series of tweets on Friday (Sept 20).

Effective Jan 1, 2019, the Malaysian government’s smoking ban came into force at all restaurants and stalls regardless of whether the premises are enclosed or open-air.

However, a period of education prior to enforcement was set for six months, meaning the law would not be enforced yet, and the six-month reprieve was later extended to the end of the year.

Come Jan 1, 2020, smokers nabbed in eateries will face a fine or a jail term not exceeding two years.