Air New Zealand Weighs Passengers Before International Flights
Air New Zealand is asking passengers to weigh in after they check in for international flights from Auckland International Airport. Why? It’s part of a monthlong survey where the airline will ask 10,000 passengers to voluntarily hop on a scale before boarding their flight. Thankfully, the passenger’s weight will be anonymous and won’t be on full display for others to see.
New Zealand’s industry watchdog, Civil Aviation Authority requires airlines to calculate the weight balance of a plane before takeoff.
Alastair James, the airline’s control improvement specialist, told NBC News: “To fly safely and efficiently, we need to be able to calculate the weight and balance of the aircraft each and every time we fly.” He also added that the weight of each passenger is “captured and goes straight to the computer.”
Passengers have to weigh their luggage separately, and those aren’t the only items that need to be weighed before a flight’s departure. Cargo, onboard meals, the crew, and cabin bags will be weighed as well.
Travel experts see the new fact-finding mission as the right path to helping the industry as a whole. The Air New Zealand survey is expected to wrap up on July 2, 2023.
In 2017, Finnish airline Finnair started weighing its passengers in a move to update decade-old data on average passenger weights.
