Three Japanese airlines said Wednesday that they will make all of their domestic flights nonsmoking by Oct. 1, following in the footsteps of Western airlines.

But their international flights will continue to have smoking seats as smoking customers are likely to become annoyed during long flights. Domestic flights take only a few hours and smokers are more likely to be able to cope without smoking, the airlines said.

Faced with complaints from nonsmoking customers, JAS will abolish smoking seats on its domestic flights on July 17, Japan Airlines will follow suit on Sept. 1, and All Nippon Airways on Oct. 1.