Air New Zealand to Collect Data on All Cargo
Utilizing Information for Optimal Flight Conditions
A New Zealand national airline has announced that it will measure passengers' body weight for five weeks, sparking controversy.
On the 30th of last month (local time), foreign media including CNN reported that the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requested Air New Zealand to conduct passenger weight checks.
Air New Zealand will measure the body weight of international passengers departing from Auckland Airport for about five weeks, from the 29th to July 2nd. Air New Zealand stated that it plans to collect a sample of at least 10,000 people to increase the reliability of the survey, amid growing controversy. [Photo by Pixabay]
Air New Zealand will survey the body weight of international passengers departing from Auckland Airport for about five weeks, from the 29th to July 2nd. They stated that to increase the reliability of the survey, they plan to collect samples from at least 10,000 people, which has intensified the controversy.
Alastair James, an expert in load management improvement at Air New Zealand, said, "We will weigh everything from cargo boarding the aircraft to in-flight meals and passengers' checked luggage," adding, "Through this survey, we will also calculate the average weight of passengers, crew members, and carry-on luggage."
Accordingly, Air New Zealand plans to ask passengers to step onto electronic scales to measure their weight during the survey period.
To protect personal information, all data will be processed anonymously. They also stated that the weight will not be displayed on the monitors of the staff conducting the survey.
Air New Zealand explained that the purpose of this survey is to collect load weight data to enhance the safety and efficiency of future aircraft operations.
Some Critical Reactions Emerge
According to the aviation industry, if the load weight is high or the aircraft's weight distribution is unbalanced, more power and fuel are required. It also affects aircraft control.
However, some have expressed critical reactions to Air New Zealand's weight survey, suggesting that it might be a way to prepare basic data for charging additional fees based on passengers' body weight.
According to the aviation industry, if the payload weight is high or the aircraft's weight distribution is unbalanced, more power and fuel are required. It also affects aircraft control. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Yonhap News
Samoa Air, the national airline of Samoa, applied a "weight-based fare" system in 2013, where fares were determined based on body weight and luggage weight. Air New Zealand stated, "This is for aircraft safety and efficient operation." The company plans to measure passengers' body weight every five years.
Meanwhile, recently, a foreign airline sparked controversy after a scene was revealed where a female passenger was made to step onto a luggage scale to check her weight. There was a heated debate among passengers about whether the airline's action was appropriate.
However, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration considers it legal to request weight information from overweight passengers on small aircraft.
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