AEROFLOT, the Russian airline, has forced the US transport department to back down from its strict anti-smoking policy.

Last week, the Russian airline gained a waiver from the American laws which ban smoking on all international flights to and from the US - allowing the carrier to maintain its practice of allowing smoking on flights of more than three hours. To pursue its action, Aeroflot has cited smoking as a "sovereign and fundamental right under a UN charter".

Curiously, Aeroflot's UK office said last week that they had not yet heard of the ruling. But a backlash against anti-smoking appears to be under way. The decision comes hard on the heels of smokers' rights ...