Brunei International Airport (BWN) in Bandar Seri Begawan, the country’s only international airport, has no smoking area: Brunei’s smoking ban covers the terminal, the airside departures area and the airport’s premises outdoors. Travellers in Brunei have their last cigarette before they set out for the airport, outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks, at least 6 metres from the buildings on the ban list and away from bus stops and taxi stands.
Brunei Airports Compared: Before and After Security
Before security, you can always smoke outside: at a designated smoking area where there is one, or outside the airport property, beyond the terminal kerb and car parks. After security, Yes means there is a smoking area past security and a dash means none is listed. Each airport’s page has the details.
| Airport | Before security | After security |
|---|---|---|
| Bandar Seri Begawan (BWN) | Yes | – |
Brunei’s Tobacco Law
Brunei’s tobacco law is the Tobacco Order, 2005, with the Tobacco (Prohibition in Certain Places) Notification, 2007, which lists the places where smoking is banned; the list was replaced on 1 March 2012:
- Where smoking is banned: the places listed include government premises, office premises, public transport terminals, bus stops and taxi stands, any airport including its premises and any immigration control post including its premises; premises include adjoining land used with them
- Around buildings: since 1 March 2012 the ban extends to a listed building’s five-foot way and to within 6 metres of its building line
- No airport smoking room: the 2007 list let the Department of Civil Aviation designate a ventilated smoking room in the terminal; the 2012 list dropped that exception, as it did the one for office premises
- Fines: a person who smokes in a banned place can be fined up to B$1,000; a manager who does not display the no-smoking notices faces up to B$1,000, and one who does not stop a smoker up to B$1,000, or B$2,000 for a repeat conviction
- E-cigarettes: section 6 of the Tobacco Order bans importing, selling or offering for sale any article designed to resemble a tobacco product, with a fine of up to B$5,000 (B$10,000 for a repeat conviction), and the government applies it to e-cigarettes; Brunei’s customs list also puts vaporisers and e-liquid among restricted imports
The Airport
Brunei International Airport (BWN). It serves Bandar Seri Begawan and is the country’s only international airport, handling international and domestic flights through a single terminal, run by the Department of Civil Aviation. The ban covers its premises, outdoor areas included.
Tips for Smokers in Brunei
- Have your last cigarette before you set out for the airport — the ban covers the airport’s premises, outdoors included
- On a connection, plan for a smoke-free wait: the airside departures area has no smoking room or terrace
- Leave vapes at home: the government treats e-cigarettes as imitation tobacco products, which may not be imported or sold, and vaporisers are restricted imports
- Away from the airport, keep at least 6 metres from the buildings on the ban list and away from bus stops and taxi stands, in line with the law