The Wayne County Airport Authority seemed to snuff out plans — for now, anyway — for a cigar lounge at Detroit Metro Airport, explaining “that in light of the temporary financial and economic uncertainty,” the concept wasn’t going to work out.
Coincidentally, the airport authority’s announcement came as smoke from Canadian wildfires filled the air.
Based on a Wednesday, July 15, statement released by the authority, the decision was a consequence of the financial collapse in May of Spirit Airlines, the second-largest carrier at the airport; although economics wasn’t the only concern that had been publicly expressed about the lounge.
The idea for the lounge — which the authority suggested in 2024 might be a good fit for the airport in the McNamara terminal — was also met with opposition from at least one public health group, which, last year, put up billboards near the airport that warned of the risks of secondhand smoke.
A campaign against the cigar bar was organized by the Detroit Wayne Oakland Tobacco Free Coalition and included billboard images of a coughing child in an airport terminal, which urged folks to “Stop the cigar lounge at DTW.” It also urged them to oppose indoor smoking.
Wednesday, the group thanked supporters who “helped us fight to Keep DTW Smoke Free!” on social media. The post also said that the airport authority’s decision on the lounger was “proof that education and advocacy makes a difference.”
Spirit — known for what was often called in the travel industry “no frills,” ultra-low cost fares and its bright yellow planes — suddenly went out of business after a last-minute bid for a $500 million government bailout failed. Spirit also blamed rising jet fuel costs, which were a result of the war in the Middle East.
Spirit, which began as a trucking company, was not just a big carrier at DTW, but also significant to Michiganders because in the 80s, it became a charter tour airline that offered travel packages from Detroit to Las Vegas, Atlantic City and the Bahamas.
Spirit’s departure from the airport did, however, open an opportunity for Frontier Airlines, another low-cost carrier, which, earlier this month, began operating three routes that were previously served by Spirit Airlines. Frontier added flights to Fort Lauderdale, Philadelphia, and Las Vegas.
Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit airport nixes cigar bar plan, blames ‘economic uncertainty’
Reporting by Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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By Frank Witsil, Detroit Free Press | USA TODAY Network
