Mobissimo

A German entrepreneur plans to launch the world's first smokers' airline next year, promising a return to the times before planes became smoke-free zones. Alexander Schoppmann, a former stockbroker, is seeking the start-up cash for Smintair - Smoker's International Airways. On its website Smintair promises to "bring back the exclusivity in flying encountered in the 1960s". The plan is to fly two leased Boeing 747s on the Duesseldorf-Tokyo route. Old-fashioned luxuries The airline will not offer economy-class tickets, but will target business people who enjoy smoking - and who are willing to pay for some extra pampering. Smoking will be allowed in all 138 seats on board - and there will be extra leg room, because jumbo jets normally accommodate more passengers. "The upper deck will be the passengers' lounge and not be jammed with seats, as you can sadly find everywhere, nowadays," the website says. "Allergics against tobacco smoke or militant anti-smokers are asked to not apply," Smintair says on its jobs page.

UPDATE: In case you were holding out that second hand smoke was innocuous, here is the latest from a report in the SF Chronicle:

"The health effects of secondhand smoke exposure are more pervasive than we previously thought," Carmona said. "The scientific evidence is now indisputable: secondhand smoke is not a mere annoyance. It is a serious health hazard that can lead to disease and premature death in children and nonsmoking adults."