# Smintair Smoker's International Airline By Trend Spotter | Published 2006-09-07 | Business Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smintair-smokers-international-airline References: [news.agendainc](http://news.agendainc.com/mt-agenda/content/archives/2006/09/smoking.html) & [iht](http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/09/03/business/smoke.php) Can't resist your unhealthy craving? A new airline, [Smintair](http://www.smintair.com), lets you smoke in flight. **From IHT:** If Alexander Schoppmann is right, then where there's smoke, there's a flier. As more countries ban smoking in public places, his idea might seem malapropos. But Schoppmann, a German entrepreneur, is hoping to turn smokers' umbrage at ever-expanding efforts to stub out their habit into a highflying business proposal: Smoker's International Airways. As the name suggests, the airline, known as Smintair for short, will probably not be for the faint of lung. The carrier, expected to begin [luxury service](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/af001) with only business and first-class seats early next year, plans daily flights between Schoppmann's hometown of Düsseldorf and Tokyo - a 12-hour journey that, for some inveterate smokers, is simply not worth the nicotine-withdrawal headache. (INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE) ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 2.8/10 - Popularity: 64% | Activity: 11% | Freshness: 8% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Business](https://www.trendhunter.com/business) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Luxury Smoking Experiences:** The trend of providing high-end, smoking-friendly experiences allows businesses to cater to niche markets and capitalize on smokers' desire for luxury services. - **Resisting Restrictions:** As more countries ban smoking in public places, there is a growing trend of businesses that leverage consumer resistance to these restrictions by offering unique smoking solutions, such as Smoker's International Airways. - **Catering to Nicotine Needs:** The trend of catering to smokers' nicotine needs presents opportunities for innovation in industries like travel and hospitality, where businesses can create smoking-friendly spaces and experiences. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Luxury Travel:** The luxury travel industry can explore disruptive innovation opportunities by offering high-end, smoking-friendly services and spaces to cater to the niche market of smokers who value luxurious travel experiences. - **Hospitality:** In the hospitality industry, there is a disruptive innovation opportunity to create smoking-friendly accommodations and facilities that cater to the needs of smokers, attracting a particular segment of travelers. - **Airline Industry:** The airline industry can capitalize on the trend of providing smoking-friendly flights by exploring disruptive innovation opportunities, such as designated smoking sections or establishing specialized airlines like Smoker's International Airways. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [THC-Infused Inflight Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/thc-infused-sodas.md) - [Winery-Owned Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/invivo-air.md) - [Nicotine-Quitting Gamification Apps](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/unsmoke.md) - [Premium Commercial Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/magnifica-air.md) - [Adult-Only Snack Shops](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/smoke-2-snack.md) - [Dog-Friendly Airlines](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/airline-for-dogs.md) - [Capacious Airline Seats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/capacious-airline-seats.md) - [Pocket-Sized Nasal Inhalers](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/snufff.md) - [Nicotine-Infused Energy Drinks](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/nic-and-jet-fuel.md)