There Was Once an Airline That Only Flew Smokers
In the early 1990s, smoking was being steadily pushed out of public spaces, and airplanes were no exception. After the FAA tightened regulations banning smoking on most flights, a few determined smokers decided to go around the rules. They tried to start their own airline, and consequently, Smokers Express emerged.
Smokers Express Was Built Around a Rebellion
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The idea came to life in 1993, founded by George “Mickey” Richardson and William Walts in Cocoa Beach, Florida. The two were frustrated by the growing list of restrictions placed on airline smoking, which had been phased out gradually since the 1970s. By 1990, nearly all domestic commercial flights had banned it.
Rather than follow those rules, Richardson and Walts structured their company as a private club. That allowed them to bypass Federal Aviation Administration regulations that governed public airlines. Memberships cost $25 annually, and applicants had to be 21 or older. With that fee came access to a smoker-friendly flying experience. They mailed flyers to households across Florida to build buzz, while boasting a list of perks that sounded almost theatrical.
In theory, they were building an airline for adults who didn’t want to apologize for lighting up midair.
The Airline Promised Wild Perks and No Children
What separated Smokers Express from traditional airlines wasn’t just the smoking policy, but the entire onboard concept. The airline would serve steaks, burgers, and subs instead of standard airline fare. Free complimentary packs for smokers were included, as were newspapers, destination maps, in-flight movies, and Lotto tickets. Members would also receive access to vacation deals, hotel discounts, and cruise packages.
In addition to this, since trips were strictly 21 and over, the company marketed it as a benefit to avoid loud children. To build a customer base, Smokers Express accepted payment for membership in the form of checks, credit cards, or even a gallon of Jack Daniel’s.
At one point, Richardson mentioned placing ads on the sides of the planes to increase revenue, and compared it to race car sponsorships. The company also planned to acquire three Douglas DC-9 jets and announced service to 11 cities, including Las Vegas, Miami, New Orleans, and Atlantic City. Despite all the promotion, there was no formal advertising campaign beyond flyers and word of mouth.
The First Flight Never Got Off the Ground
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Smokers Express scheduled its first flight for September 25, 1993. The route would run from Florida to Washington, D.C., with passengers joining a protest against President Clinton’s proposed tobacco tax increase. That protest, called the “Smokers’ Rights March,” was supposed to coincide with the flight’s arrival. When ticket sales fell short, the airline delayed the trip to January 1994 and shifted the departure to Raleigh-Durham.
The round-trip fare was listed at $345. But the rescheduled flight met the same fate—too few people bought in. Despite claiming to have sold between 5,000 and 6,000 memberships, Smokers Express didn’t convert that into ticket sales.
Maintenance provider Aero Corp later confirmed it had a verbal agreement to service the aircraft, but said the airline couldn’t raise enough capital to launch. Though the planes were real and the routes were mapped, the operation never became functional. Smokers Express disappeared without ever operating a single flight.