Airlines told to obey nonsmoker rules again

Nonsmoking airline passengers will regain some protection against drifting tobacco smoke under a new federal appeals-court ruling here. The court ruled that the Civil Aeronautics Board improperly relaxed the regulations in 1981.

The ruling, which could take effect in mid-March, would once again require airlines to segregate pipe and cigar smokers, prohibit smoking when a plane's ventilation system is not running full power, and protect nonsmokers from breathing drifting smoke.