Zippo Helps Convince TSA to Remove Ban on Lighters in Airplanes

Large water bottles. Knives. Sharp scissors. Matches. Semi-automatic guns. These items are all banned from being carried into the cabins of the United State's airplanes, and have been since December 2004 when the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) banned them under Section 4025 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act. However, you can now cross lighters off of the list of contraband items.

Today, the Transportation Security Administration, the department in charge of screening all luggage and keeping our airplanes safe from terrorists, announced that it was removing the ban on common lighters. The TSA statement read that "lighters no longer pose a significant threat" to the safety and security of airports, airplanes and those passengers traveling via air.

This pleases both cigarette smokers and the manufacturers of the lighters themselves. Zippo Manufacturing Company, the 75-year-old maker of the world-renowned pocket lighter that claims to be windproof, supports the Transportation Security Administration's decision and said that it has been working with the administration to allow lighters-not only Zippo lighters-back onto airplanes.

"I'm happy. Now I don't have to buy a lighter when I land at my destination," says one smoker who wishes to remain anonymous. "Previously, I would have had to buy matches or a cigarette lighter at the next airport, but now I can take my lighter onto the plane with me which saves me money and all the hassle of buying a new one wherever I am."

"We have worked closely with the TSA and the Department of Transportation on this issue and are relieved to see the ban lifed in the United States," said Greg Booth, president and CEO of Zippo Manufacturing Company, in a statement today. "We will continue to work with all national security agencies to ensure that the flying public remains safe and may purchase our reliable and durable products wherever they may travel."

"The work conducted by Zippo with support from Pennsylvania 5th District Rep. John Peterson and Pennsylvania Senators Arlen Specter and Robert Casey led to an exemption allowing lighters in carry-on luggage," Booth said.

Lighters are the only items on which the ban has been dropped. The ban on other dangerous and hazardous material and items is still in effect until further notice. This includes, but is not limited to, a ban on all knives, liquids that weigh over three ounces, scissors, swords (leave it behind, samurai!), baseball bats, pool cues, hockey sticks, guns, saws, drills, and strike-anywhere matches.