Yes, you can smoke at Tahiti Faa’a Airport (PPT). After security, the Air Tahiti Nui lounge has a semi-enclosed smoking area, and landside you can smoke in the open air at the curb.
Faa’a International Airport (Tahiti International Airport), about 5 km southwest of Papeete on reclaimed reef land, is French Polynesia’s sole international gateway. It is a compact single-storey complex with a mezzanine level and separate domestic and international zones under one largely open-air roof. Because much of the terminal is naturally ventilated and warm, smokers are rarely far from open air, and the options are simple: one lounge-gated spot beyond security and the open-air forecourt outside.
Where to Smoke
After security (airside)
The Air Tahiti Nui (Poerava/Club Tiare) lounge, on the upper mezzanine level, holds the only smoking spot beyond security: a semi-enclosed “green” smoking area with glass doors, a living plant wall and benches. It is not a fully enclosed indoor room — ventilation comes from the planted, semi-open design. Access is lounge-gated: you need Poerava Business or Club Tiare Gold status, or a paid Lounge Pass. There is no smoking facility at the gates or in the main concourse.
Landside (before security)
Smoking is open-air at the curb and forecourt outside the terminal — the natural place for a last cigarette before check-in or after you land. Travellers also report a dedicated open-air smoking area beside the domestic-zone food court that opened in 2024. Keep clear of doorways and other travellers; there are no other public smoking areas landside beyond these open-air spaces.
Planning your smoke break
PPT handles a small number of long-haul departures clustered around the middle of the day and late evening, and the compact terminal fills quickly at those peaks. On a premium fare, the Air Tahiti Nui lounge smoking area is the most comfortable option once you are through security. On an economy ticket without a Lounge Pass, plan to have your last cigarette at the open-air curb before you check in, since there is no public smoking spot at the gates and no easy way back landside once you are airside.
Vaping
Disposable single-use vapes are banned, and the rules have been tightening: in late August 2025 the Assembly of French Polynesia voted to extend the prohibition to all e-cigarettes and their derivatives. French Polynesia sets its own tobacco framework — the French national rules do not apply automatically — so confirm the current status before travelling with a device. For the full rules, see our French Polynesia airport smoking guide.
Summary
| Location | Smoking |
|---|---|
| After security (airside) | Yes – semi-enclosed area in the Air Tahiti Nui lounge (lounge access required) |
| Indoor terminal | No |
| Landside (open-air curb) | Yes – curb, forecourt, and the domestic-zone food court area |
For French Polynesia’s airport smoking rules and vaping law, see our French Polynesia airport smoking guide.