Tobacco Documents Online

Dear Horace:

Abstract

This brief 1980 note from James Bowling (Senior Vice President of Philip Morris) to Horace Kornegay (President of the Tobacco Institute) reveals the industry's intent to undermine the rule requiring airlines to establish no-smoking areas on board commercial aircraft. The rule contained a loophole that allowed a "all airlines to apply for permission to experiment wiith alternative methods of protecting nonsmokers from tobacco smoke." http://tobaccodocuments.org/pm/2023258262.html

Bowling states, "Does this present an opportunity for us to mount a first class effort to get the rules changed?...If this presents an opportunity to turn that one around--I think we should do everything possible."

Bowling further states,

"I believe that the successful efforts of the anti's in getting the smoking/no-smoking rule established aboard aircraft was the single most effective thing in their effort to create and promote a social stigma to public smoking."

This statement underscores the often-overlooked historic contribution made by airline flight attendants in the smoke-free movement. Flight attendants were some of the first and most compelling advocates for change. Their dogged struggle against both airline management and the tobacco industry is one of the best examples of the how a group of individuals with no money and no clout can affect sweeping changes in public health. Flight attendants experienced some of the highest exposures to secondhand smoke on the job. They were truly the "canaries in the coal mine" for secondhand smoke exposure on the job. The flight attendants' compelling testiony before Congress led Congress to eventually ban smoking on commercial aircraft. This groundbreaking legislation would not have been possible without the courageous and persistent efforts of this group of individuals.

Fields

Notes

Thank you to ex-American Airlines flight-attendant Patty Young of Dallas, Texas for bringing this document to Doc-Alert's attention. Patty Young now serves as a trustee to the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute (www.famri.org) which honors flight attendants who have given their lives for safer skies.

Quotes

December 21, 1980

Dear Horace:

Here's a copy of a memo from Betsy Harrison of our Washington office with the December 18th Federal Register CAB data. Does this present an opportunity for us to moutn a first class effort to get the rules changed? A chance for alternate aisle seating or other possibilities? As you know, I believe that the successful efforts of the anti's in getting the smoking/no-smoking rule established aboard aircraft was the single most effective thing in their effort to create and promote a social stigma to public smoking. If this presents an opportunity to turn that one around--I think we should do everything possible.

I would be interested in the thinking of you and your staff.

Best regards,

Cordially, James C. Bowling

Company

Philip Morris

Author

Bowling, James Chandler (PM; TI, Corporate Affairs Director & VP; Board of Dir.)

Vice President and Director of Sales at Philip Morris from 1967 to 1976. He was Senior Vice President of PM from 1977 to 1984 and on the Board of Directors from 1971 to 1984. Also worked for the Tobacco Institute. Attempted to improve the image of smoking in the face of negative health news.

Recipient

Kornegay, Horace R. (TI President and Exec. Director)

VP Leaf Ops (RJR), TI Chairman (1985)

Region

United States

Named Organization

Civil Aeronautics Board (Ruled on smoking in U.S. airplanes)

Federal Register

Litigation

Stmn/Produced

Named Person

Harrison, Betsy (PM Government Relations office, Wash. D.C., c. 1980)

Type

LETT, LETTER

Subject

smoking restriction

airplane

public health policy

public transportation