Airline becomes the latest to weigh passengers before they fly for ‘safety reasons’
Airline is last to weigh passengers before flying due to ‘safety reasons’
Airline passengers are accustomed to weighing their luggage, but now travelers on South Korean airlines can be weighed themselves before boarding their flight.
Korean Air, the country’s largest airline, is the latest company to announce it will measure the average weight of passengers and their carry-ons “for flight safety.”
Similar measures came into effect in New Zealand in June, when more than 10,000 passengers flying Air New Zealand were expected to weigh themselves before the flight.
Now, travelers flying into Seoul from South Korea’s two largest airports will be asked to step on the scales at the airport, a step the government says is “critical to the safety of flight operations.”
The new measures will take effect at Gimpo Airport from August 28 to September 6, while the same applies to passengers departing from Incheon International Airport from September 8 to September 19.
Korean Air, the country’s largest airline, is the latest company to announce it will measure the average weight of passengers and their carry-on luggage
The Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) has advised all Korean flag carriers to update the Aircraft Weight and Balance Management Standards.
“This is critical to the safety of flight operations, and Korean Air is complying with this mandate and remains committed to making safety its top priority,” they said.
Some have expressed concerns online about the move, but the company has stressed that the privacy of participating passengers will be safeguarded.
“Korean Air passengers will be asked to step onto a scale with their carry-on luggage at each boarding gate,” a Korean Air official said. Korea JoongAng Daily.
“The anonymously collected data will be used for research purposes and this does not mean that overweight passengers will have to pay more.”
Passengers may also be relieved to learn that if they prefer not to be weighed, they can skip it.
It comes after a five-week survey of passengers by Kiwi carrier Air New Zealand, announced in May, with scales set up at Auckland airport.
It comes after a five-week survey of passengers by Kiwi carrier Air New Zealand, announced in May, with scales set up at Auckland airport
More than 10,000 passengers flying Air New Zealand were expected to weigh themselves before the flight (stock image)
Air New Zealand load control specialist Alastair James stressed at the time that the investigation was completely voluntary and anonymous.
“We know it can be difficult to step on the scale. We want to reassure our customers that there is no visible display anywhere,” he told Seven Sharp.
“We need to know the weight of everything that goes on our plane.
‘We use an average weight for passengers or customers, crew and their hand luggage and that average weight comes from this research.’
Mr James explains that at least 10,000 people should participate in the study ‘to get a reasonable sample of the traveling public’.
While he admitted the process “seems a little unusual,” he said it was important for the airline to determine the average weight on flights.
In addition to the weight of passengers, crew and luggage, cargo and meals on board were also weighed in the study.
Air New Zealand conducts the same survey every five years.