Although smoking on commercial flights has been banned since 1997, aviation authorities in the UK, the EU, and the US continue to mandate the presence of metal ashtrays. The reason is safety: passengers who ignore the ban need a safe place to extinguish a cigarette to prevent catastrophic onboard fires.

Aviation regulatory authorities, including the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the US and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) , classify ashtrays in aircraft lavatories as part of an aircraft’s minimum equipment list. During pre-departure checks, ground teams must confirm their presence. In the past, British Airways flights have experienced delays due to a missing mandatory ashtray in the toilet. Removing these fixtures requires formal approval for a “design change” from the relevant safety authorities.

Why are they necessary if smoking is banned?

Although smoking on board is strictly prohibited, authorities recognize that some passengers still break these rules. If a passenger lights a cigarette in the lavatory, a metal ashtray provides a safe place to fully extinguish it. Without such a provision, a smoker might toss the lit cigarette into a waste bin containing paper towels, potentially starting a cabin fire.

This scenario actually occurred in 1973, when a carelessly discarded cigarette caused a cabin fire on a flight to Paris, resulting in the deaths of 123 passengers. This tragic accident underscored the need for simple but essential safety measures.

The ban also applies to e-cigarettes

Strict rules also apply to modern alternatives such as e-cigarettes and vapes. Airlines prohibit their use on board and strictly do not allow them to be charged during the flight. Vapes contain lithium batteries that can overheat while charging, posing a serious fire hazard in the aircraft cabin.

Conclusion

The presence of ashtrays on airplanes is a safety measure that may seem outdated, but it addresses a simple reality: bans are not always followed, and the consequences of an onboard fire are catastrophic. It is a clear example of how safety regulations are based on realistic scenarios, not just on ideal passenger behavior.