You can still carry butane lighters onto commercial airliners. There was supposed to be a ban go into effect Tuesday. Congress set the deadline some time back. Senators were afraid someone would try a repeat of the "shoe bomber," lighting a fuse by flicking a Bic. But the deadline passed and the Transportation Security Administration can't seem to stop the lighters just yet.
The Office of Budget Management put the ban on hold. Right now, you can carry two butane lighters and four books of matches onto planes -- even though you're not allowed to smoke -- or build campfires -- on any of them.
But the tobacco industry has lobbied against the ban. They argue that the ban will create defacto "No Smoking" zones throughout airports because people won't bother to bring lighters with them to the airports. They'd also like people to light up as soon as they deplane and reach a "Smoking" zone. (Guardian)
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