In another effort to show the world that if you act outrageously someone else will do your advertising, Ryan Air has stated they will now allow passengers to enjoy "smokeless" cigarettes on their flights, forming a campaign around a Smoking On Planes is Back and Badder than Ever motif.

Smokeless cigarettes are the first product to come out what I'm calling the "for the love of vice" product line (next up is the beer Camelback and an Off Track Betting app for iPhone). Smokeless cigarettes are small metal delivery devices made to look like cigarettes but do not contain actual tobacco. Instead they are filled with a type of liquid nicotine that, when electrified is vaporized, quickly enters your lungs and is disseminated into  your bloodstream. The chain reaction starts when air in passed through the tube on a smokers inhale. Ingenious really. And with no icky smoky by-products!

Per Ryanair's press release, Stephen McNamara says:

“Now, to help passengers who like to smoke and find it difficult to travel on an aircraft for a couple of hours without getting their nicotine hit Ryanair has launched Similar Smokeless Cigarettes.

Ryanair’s Smokeless Cigarettes deliver a similar level of nicotine to traditional cigarettes and are available in packs of 10 for just €6. As these cigarettes are smokeless they cause no discomfort to other passengers and can ensure a more enjoyable and stress free flight for all passengers as non-smokers will no longer have to cope with moody smokers in need of nicotine.”

Is CEO Michael O'leary the Great White Hope for traveling smokers, taking the heat and in turn creating a swell profit for his airline? Who knows, but at least 24,000 surveyed passengers are lifting a smokeless toast.

By the way €6 is about $9.00 at today's exchange rate. For the love of vice!

* Ryanair photo by  Monika Szyma