Smoking Areas at Malaysia Airports

English

Yes, you can smoke at Malaysia’s main airports — including indoors after security: KLIA1, klia2 and Penang keep airside smoking rooms, and Kota Kinabalu has designated smoking areas past the checkpoint. Malaysia’s law bans general indoor smoking and allows airports to run designated smoking facilities. The Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 (Act 852) publishes the official list of airport smoking areas.

For travellers, Kuala Lumpur is the airport that matters most. KLIA1’s Satellite Building has smoking rooms on the Mezzanine Level near Gates C11 and C31, accessible to international transit passengers. klia2 (the AirAsia budget hub) has a smoking room at Level 2 of its Satellite Building in Sector 6, airside.

How Malaysian Airport Smoking Works

Malaysian law bans general indoor smoking and permits designated airport smoking facilities; Act 852 (in force since October 2024) lists them airport by airport. In practice:

Airside options at the big hubs: KLIA1 (smoking rooms near Gates C11/C31), klia2 (Sector 6 room), Penang (room near Gate A6), Kota Kinabalu (Level 3 departure areas)
Landside: designated outdoor areas at KLIA1, klia2, Penang, Kota Kinabalu and Kuching; Kuching is landside-only since its airside room closed
Follow the marked signage in Bahasa Malaysia and English to the designated areas

Malaysia’s Act 852 also tightened vaping regulation; airports continue to permit vaping in the same designated smoking areas and rooms as cigarettes.

The Major Hubs

Kuala Lumpur International (KUL/KLIA1). Malaysia’s primary international gateway, opened 1998. The Main Terminal Building handles full-service carriers; the Satellite Building (connected by Aerotrain) handles wide-body international flights. Smoking rooms on the Satellite Building Mezzanine Level near Gates C11 and C31 — airside, accessible to transit passengers. The MAS Golden Lounge also has a smoking room, and the MTB has landside outdoor areas.

klia2. The dedicated budget terminal opened 2014, primarily serving AirAsia and AirAsia X. Smoking room at Level 2 of its Satellite Building in Sector 6, airside. Sometimes confused with the older Low-Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) which was demolished.

Other Malaysian Airports

Penang International (PEN). Airside smoking room near Gate A6, next to Old Town Coffee, after security, plus designated outdoor areas landside. Penang serves both domestic and international flights.

Kota Kinabalu (BKI). Sabah’s main airport. Designated smoking areas on the Level 3 domestic departure floor after security, a smoking room at international arrivals, plus Level 1 areas and outdoor spots outside the terminal.

Kuching (KCH). Sarawak’s main airport. Outdoor areas landside only — the former airside smoking room was closed by the Ministry of Health.

Johor Bahru / Senai (JHB). Southern Johor’s gateway, across the causeway from Singapore. Sleeping in Airports (Feb 2026) and a March 2025 Instagram post separately describe a smoking room in the departure hall — see the airport page for the sourcing and its unconfirmed position.

Langkawi (LGK). The duty-free island’s single-terminal airport. Designated outdoor smoking areas outside the terminal, landside only — the interior is smoke-free.

Tips for Smokers at Malaysian Airports

KLIA1’s Satellite Building smoking rooms near Gates C11 and C31 are the airside smoking spots
klia2 Sector 6 has an airside smoking room for budget carrier passengers
Penang (Gate A6 room) and Kota Kinabalu (Level 3 areas) also keep airside options; Kuching is landside-only
For tight connections at Kuching, plan to wait until your next smoking opportunity
Vapes are regulated under Act 852 and belong in the same designated areas as cigarettes
Tropical heat means outdoor smoking can be uncomfortable in midday; morning/evening better
Heat-not-burn devices follow the same rules as cigarettes — including the airside smoking rooms

Malaysia Airports Compared: Indoor, Outdoor & After Security

Airport	After security	Indoor room	Outdoor area
Smoking at Kota Kinabalu Airport – BKI	Yes	Yes	Yes
KLIA Airport (KUL)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smoking at Kuching Airport – KCH	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Langkawi International Airport – LGK	–	–	Yes
Smoking at Penang Airport – PEN	Yes	Yes	Yes
Smoking at Senai International Airport – JHB	–	Yes	–

Last updated: September 13, 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you smoke at Malaysian airports?

Yes — in designated smoking areas and rooms. Malaysian law (now the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024, Act 852) bans general indoor smoking and lets airports run designated smoking facilities. Kuala Lumpur (KLIA1 and klia2), Penang (PEN) and Kota Kinabalu (BKI) keep airside options; Kuching (KCH) is outdoor-landside only.

Where can I smoke at Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL)?

In the smoking rooms on the Mezzanine Level of the KLIA1 Satellite Building, near Gates C11 and C31, and at klia2 in the smoking room at Level 2 of its Satellite Building in Sector 6. Both are airside and reachable from the transit area without re-clearing security.

Are there smoking areas at Penang Airport?

Yes — Penang International (PEN) keeps an airside smoking room near Gate A6, next to Old Town Coffee, after security, plus designated outdoor areas landside.

Are e-cigarettes and vapes allowed at Malaysian airports?

Yes — at airports, vaping follows the same rules as smoking, in the same designated smoking areas and rooms as cigarettes. Vaping is currently legal in Malaysia; regulations have tightened substantially since 2024, and the Control of Smoking Products for Public Health Act 2024 introduced licensing for vape sales and restricted some flavours. Bringing vapes for personal use is permitted; check current import limits.

Can I smoke during a Malaysian airport layover?

Yes — KLIA1’s Satellite Building smoking rooms near Gates C11 and C31, klia2’s Sector 6 smoking room, Penang’s Gate A6 room and Kota Kinabalu’s Level 3 domestic departure areas are past security. Kuching has no airside area; transit smokers must exit and re-clear security.