Finnair, a Finnish airline, has stirred controversy with its decision to weigh passengers along with their carry-on luggage before take-off, aiming to better estimate the plane’s weight. According to spokeswoman Kaisa Tikkanen, over 500 volunteers have already participated in the weigh-ins since they commenced in Helsinki on Monday.
The airline clarified that the collected data is strictly anonymous and not linked to passengers’ personal information. Only the customer service agent conducting the weighing can view the total weight, ensuring passengers’ privacy, asserted Satu Munnukka, head of ground processes at Finnair.
Passengers are required to stand on a scale with their clothing and carry-on luggage for a combined weight reading. This approach, according to Communications Director Päivyt Tallqvist, accounts for fluctuations in weight, especially during colder months when passengers tend to wear heavier clothing.
Tallqvist emphasized Finnair’s commitment to safety and accuracy in flight calculations. The airline aims to verify the precision of data used for flight performance calculations, which are crucial for safe transit.
Weigh-ins are scheduled for February, April, and May on a voluntary basis. The airline plans to record passengers’ age, gender, and class of travel alongside their weight.
Finnair isn’t the first airline to implement such measures. Last year, Korean Air and easyJet also undertook similar initiatives to optimize fuel efficiency and ensure flight safety.
In a related development, a recent poll indicated a significant portion of Britons supporting the idea of overweight passengers paying more for air travel. This sentiment reflects ongoing discussions around equitable pricing and comfort considerations in the airline industry.
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