That's pretty much my understanding. Aside from certain exceptions you can't have any highly flammable compressed gasses or liquids on airplanes. There's an exception for a small amount (like one can/person) of stuff like hairspray. There used to be one for a lighter if you carried it on, but that got dumped a while back. Thank the Shoe Bomber. Despite not taking down the plane, he was a rather sucessful terrorist. No more flying with a lighter *grumble* *grumble*.
This also applies to air freight, but there's no exemption for toiletries and smoking supplies. If you want to ship filled lighters, hair spray, or a can of WD40, you have to ship it ground and declare it as hazardous.
Technically you should be fine with it as a carry on or in baggage if it's empty. I wouldn't check it though. Keep in mind you're dealing with the governement. Chances are they won't notice it, but if they do they probably won't look to see if it's full. They'll just assume it is and proceed to cause you all sorts of nuisances. Personally I wouldn't bother. I'd just take a few matches and get more matches or a disposable once I got there.