Yes — you can smoke in the open air outside the small terminal building at Shimla Airport (SLV), before you go through security. There is no indoor or airside smoking room.
Shimla’s airport sits at Jubbarhatti, about 22 km from Shimla town, on a levelled hilltop at roughly 5,000 ft. The single runway is one of the shortest in Indian commercial service — around 1,200 m — so only small ATR turboprops can use it, and the terminal is a one-room affair handling only about 40 departing passengers at a time. Alliance Air runs the only scheduled flights, on the Delhi–Shimla and Shimla–Dharamshala routes; services resumed on 10 May 2026 after one of the airport’s periodic pauses, and they stay highly weather-dependent year-round. There is no airside (post-security) smoking zone, and no enclosed smoking lounge is provided.
Where to Smoke
- In the open air outside the terminal — on the forecourt or towards the car park, away from entrances and other travellers.
- Once you pass security there is nowhere to smoke, so step out beforehand. With a terminal this small, security is a short walk from the kerb; you can time your last cigarette close to boarding calls.
- Morning fog and winter cold are routine at this altitude — flights are frequently delayed, so keep your cigarettes and lighter accessible in case you end up waiting landside.
Smoking Zones Summary
| Location | Smoking | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Outside the terminal (landside) | Yes — open air | Forecourt and car-park side, away from doors |
| Inside the terminal | No | Enclosed public building, smoke-free under COTPA |
| After security | No | No airside smoking zone |
Smoking inside the enclosed terminal is banned under India’s COTPA law; fines apply for smoking in non-designated spots.
Connecting via Delhi? Indira Gandhi International has indoor smoking rooms in every terminal — see our guide to smoking at Delhi Airport (DEL).
For India airport smoking rules, fines, the PECA vape ban, lighter-machine instructions, and other rules, see our India smoking guide.