Method and apparatus for packaging smoking articles

A method of producing a pack of smoking articles, comprising:

• providing a pre-assembled pack of smoking articles comprising an inner pack comprising a flexible sheet in which a group of smoking articles is wrapped and having a re-closable flap movable between a closed flap position for preventing access to the smoking articles and an open flap position for accessing the smoking articles, and an outer pack comprising a container which holds and substantially encompasses the inner pack, the outer pack having a lid in a closed lid position preventing access to the inner pack, wherein the lid is movable between the closed lid position and an open lid position for accessing the inner pack;
• subsequently, creating a space between the lid of the outer pack and the inner pack to provide access to a portion of the re-closable flap, wherein creating the space comprises pivoting the lid relative to the container, from the closed lid position to an at least partially open lid position;
• attaching the re-closable flap of the inner pack to the lid of the outer pack via the space;
• and
• subsequently, transporting the pack to a wrapping station to wrap the pack individually in a clear film.