Southwest Florida International Airport leaders OK outdoor smoking limits

Laura Ruane
The News-Press, Ft. Myers, FL

January 11, 2010

The indoor smoking ban at Southwest Florida International’s passenger terminal is going outdoors at certain points.

Lee County commissioners this morning unanimously OK’d establishing marked no-smoking zones outside the airport’s terminal within 50 feet of the two main entry doors - numbered 2 and 5 - on both the first and second levels.

The commissioners, sitting as the port authority board, followed last month’s recommendation of the Airports Special Management Committee, business people who advise commissioners on policy.

Leaders of Southwest Florida International Airport today could extend the airport’s indoor smoking ban outdoors.

The issue is expected to come up this morning when the Airports Special Management Committee meets with Lee County commissioners sitting as the port authority board.

The committee members — business people who advise commissioners on policy — last month unanimously recommended establishing marked no-smoking zones outside the airport’s terminal within 50 feet of the two main entry doors - numbered 2 and 5 - on both the first and second levels.

Commissioners asked the Airports Special Management Committee for recommendations, saying outdoor smoking near the terminal was distressing some people, particularly those with breathing problems.