Emirates will adopt a total no-smoking policy on all flights from August 1, its chairman, Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, announced yesterday. The airline is one of the last major carriers still offering smoking seats, although non-smoking flights have been introduced on some routes.

Sheikh Ahmed, who is also President of Dubai Civil Aviation, said the decision to introduce a total no-smoking policy had been taken in response to passenger surveys and requests.

"The overwhelming majority of our customers continue to indicate to us that they prefer no-smoking flights, and I have now decided to change the company's long-standing smoking policy," he said. "The first flight on which the new policy will be operated is expected to be flight EK815 departing Colombo for Dubai at 00.45am."

A number of frequent flyers yesterday welcomed the change of policy as a boost to travelling comfort.

Businesswoman Indrami Mehta, 36, who flies regularly with Emirates, said, "This is fantastic news for non-smokers as it means we will no longer have to breathe second-hand smoke. Sometimes when flights are full I have had to sit in the smoking section and be surrounded by people puffing away for hours in such a confined space. You get off the flight stinking of smoke and it's disgusting."

Engineer Gerry Corrigan, 33, also welcomed the change. "As a smoker trying to give up, I need all the opportunities I can for someone to tell me not to smoke." But Charles Hay of the Middle East Tobacco Association felt compromise was needed.

"One has to accept that most airlines have gone non-smoking but, speaking personally as a smoker, I think it's an immense pity that airlines can't provide a separate smoking cabin where people can go for a cigarette like Air France has done on its long-haul flights.

"It seems to me that compromise is the way forward as long flights can be difficult for a smoker, especially as some people are terrified of flying." Emirates has begun notifying travel agents and booking offices of the change of policy and asking them to consult clients who have already booked smoking seats after July 31 to advise them of the new policy.

Emirates Commercial Operations Director Ghaith Al Ghaith said, "Effective today, for flights departing on or after August 1, our reservations system is being updated to remove all seats designated as 'smoking' seats. We will immediately communicate this to all booking offices and travel agents via their Global Distribution Systems."

Emirates will also notify all passengers with reservations on flights departing after July 31 that their flight will be completely non-smoking.

"Some of our passengers who have not pre-reserved a smoking seat are smokers and often request a smoking seat at check-in," he said. "As a courtesy, we intend to inform everyone of the new status of their flight."

Emirates estimates that the change in policy will affect less than 10 per cent of its passengers. The airline already operates non-smoking flights on the Dubai-Manchester route, some flights between Dubai and London Heathrow and flights between Dubai and Melbourne and Sydney.