Filled Zippo Lighters Again Allowed on Planes

BRADFORD, Pa. (AP) -- A federal agency has further relaxed restrictions on liquid fuel lighters, including Zippo's signature product, and issued a temporary exemption allowing filled lighters on checked airplane luggage.

In April, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration banned the lighters from all commercial airplanes. Passengers previously had been allowed to have two lighters in their carry-on luggage.

The TSA relaxed regulations May 16, allowing empty liquid fuel lighters in checked luggage.

This week, the U.S. Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration instituted a temporary regulation allowing filled lighters in checked baggage. Under the exemption, the filled lighters must be kept in a vapor-tight, hard plastic box, according to a statement issued Wednesday by U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa.

The filled-lighter exemption runs until Oct. 31, but Zippo officials hope it becomes permanent. The Pipeline and Hazardous Material Safety Administration is part of the Department of Transportation.

''I am pleased to share this good news with the employees of Zippo,'' Santorum said. ''As one of the largest cigarette-lighter manufacturers, Zippo employs 750 people in Bradford. Prohibiting filled lighters on flights would have a direct impact on this major employer in our state and would have put hundreds of jobs and our local economy in jeopardy.''

The McKean County company sold about 14 million lighters last year at a typical cost of $15 to $20. The ban had the potential to cut profits by 20 to 30 percent, the company said.

Collectors and tourists make the most money for Zippo, and the ban stood to put a serious hitch in swap meets, officials said.

Zippo expects to sell a container meeting the specifications through its Web site in several weeks, said company spokesman Pat Grandy.