Not just baggage on the scale: New Zealand’s Civil Aviation Authority has asked its national airline – which has 104 operating aircraft – to also weigh departing passengers on international flights from Auckland airport. A weight survey campaign has started this week (which will continue until 2 July), which the airline uses to collect data on the load and weight distribution on the planes. The goal is to detect and record the weight of about 10 thousand people.
“We weigh everything that goes on board, from cargo to meals to bags in the hold,” explained Alastair James, who is in charge of cargo control at the airline. «For customers, crew and hand luggage, we use an average we get from this survey». Knowing the average passenger weight can also help improve fuel efficiency.
Participation in the survey, however, is voluntary. And, since not many people are willing to let others know their weight, when passengers step on the digital scale when checking in for their flight, the information are recorded in a special database for the survey, but they are not visible on the screen. Luggage must be placed on another scale, for separate weighing.
“We know stepping on the scale can be daunting,” added James. «We want to reassure our customers that there are no visible displays nowhere. No one can see their weight, not even us. With their contribution, they will help us fly ever more safely and efficiently.”
Air New Zealand had already asked passengers to weigh themselves before boarding, in 2021. On the other hand, this data is required by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority. According to its rules, airlines have various options for estimating the weight of passengers. One is to conduct surveys periodically to determine an average weight. Another is to accept a standard weight set by the authority. At the moment, this weight, for people aged 13 and over is 86 kilograms, including hand luggage. The authority last changed the average passenger weight in 2004, because it was previously 77 kilograms.
Source: Vanity Fair
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