One of last holdouts is going smokeless;

One of the world's last major airlines to allow passengers to light up is in the process of permanently illuminating the "no smoking" sign. But Aeroflot, Russia's biggest airline, is going one step further: It has vowed to offer "substitutes" to help smokers overcome their cravings while in the air.

The smoking ban is being rolled out in two stages: Under the first, which began last week, smoking will be prohibited on 93 flights, and from March 31 all flights will be smoke-free, the statement said. The decision was dictated by the wishes of passengers, Aeroflot said. Aeroflot had already banned smoking on all flights of less than four hours.

"For rendering help to passengers for whom it is difficult to abstain from smoking, the company intends to acquire so-called substitutes, which would reduce dependence on nicotine during the flight," the statement said. The airline didn't provide further details.