The banning of smoking in airport terminals in the Highlands and Islands will be completed from 1 September 2005 when Inverness Airport terminal becomes a smoke free zone.

Highlands and Islands Airports Limited stopped smoking in its terminals at Benbecula and Stornoway in 2002 and since then the ban has rolled out to Barra, Campbeltown, Islay, Kirkwall, Sumburgh, Tiree and Wick.

The completion of the smoking ban in public areas of the terminals comes ahead of a Scotland-wide ban on smoking in enclosed public spaces from next March.

Last year, the cafeteria and departure lounge designated smoking areas at Inverness Airport were removed and today is last day that smoking will be allowed in the remaining permitted area in the main terminal concourse.

HIAL managing director Inglis Lyon said: “Our programme to stop smoking in all public areas of our terminals will be completed at 10pm on Wednesday night when the terminal closes to passengers. The smoking bans implemented over the past three years have been carried out following consultation with our customers and local stakeholders, taking account of the overall comfort of passengers and terminal users and legislation due to come into force in 2006.

“We are confident that this will improve the overall experience for the majority of travellers using our airports in the future,” said Mr Lyon.