Dublin Airport refreshes Terminal 1 outdoor smoking area ahead of winter peak

Dublin Airport has unveiled a revamped smoking and vaping terrace outside Terminal 1 Departures, adding new seating, privacy screens and signage in response to passenger feedback. The refurbishment was first trailed on 28 September and confirmed via airport social channels on 1 October; specialist site Airport Smoking Zones published photos and details on 9 October. The area remains landside—before security—so travellers need to get their nicotine fix prior to check-in and screening; once airside, the only option is The Garden Terrace bar near Gates 101-224. The airport reiterated that there are no smoking facilities inside U.S. pre-clearance, a frequent pain-point for transatlantic flyers. While the upgrade may seem minor, it forms part of daa’s wider passenger-experience drive that includes C3 scanner roll-outs and way-finding improvements. Airport surveys show that 7 % of passengers identify as smokers or vapers; providing designated spaces can reduce rule-breaking and security incidents. Travel-programme managers should update airport-arrival guides for assignees, particularly those transiting through Dublin en route to Shannon-based projects who may have limited dwell time between flights. Employers should also remind staff that Ireland’s indoor smoking ban remains among the strictest in Europe—non-compliance carries on-the-spot fines. Looking ahead, daa says it is ‘working on’ a similar facility for Terminal 2, but no location or timeline has been announced. Frequent flyers should therefore continue to plan extra time if they need to move between terminals for an outdoor break.