Belfast International Airport has rolled out a fee aimed at travellers wishing to use the new smoking area after passing through security.
The designated smoking areas situated at the front entrance of the terminal building are still free, but smokers wishing to light up just prior to boarding will now have to pay up.
An airport spokesperson confirmed that the £1 fee has been in effect for ten days, and will go towards off-setting the cost of creating the new smoking area.
Belfast International Airport released a statement: “We recognised that there was a demand for a smoking facility from some customers given that all public places (including airports) are now, and have been for a number of years, non-smoking.
“We are responding to that demand, however providing a specialist facility for a relatively small number of users is expensive to build and to maintain, so it is not unreasonable that a small charge should be levied for the use of the facility.”
The airport added that customers who do not wish to pay the fee can still smoke in the free areas at the front of the terminal.
