Finland’s flagship airline, Finnair, has announced that it will start weighing passengers as well as their luggage. The airline stated that this voluntary measure, taking place throughout May, is aimed at improving balance calculations to enhance flight safety. Finnair plans to collect data by weighing willing customers and their carry-on baggage at the departure gate, emphasizing that the process will be both voluntary and anonymous. The company assured passengers that the data would solely be used to optimize their current aircraft balance calculations and not linked to any personal information.
By weighing passengers, Finnair aims to ensure that the plane does not exceed the maximum weight it can bear before takeoff. This move responds to the changing diets and eating patterns that have contributed to heavier passengers. Shem Malmquist, an instructor at Florida Tech’s College of Aeronautics, explained that when a significant number of passengers weigh more than average, it can impact an airplane’s performance calculations such as runway length, obstacle clearance, and landing distances, all of which are weight-dependent.
Most European airlines rely on the mean passenger weight calculated by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). According to their findings, the mean weight for men is 82.2 kg (181.22 lbs), while women average at 67.5 kg (148.8 lbs).
The issue of weight has been a contentious topic in the airline industry, particularly concerning plus-sized and obese passengers. Some domestic carriers, including United, Spirit, Frontier, Hawaiian, and American, require customers who cannot fit into a single seat to purchase an additional ticket. Critics argue that airlines have reduced seat width to maximize profits.
Finnair’s decision to join airlines such as Korean Air, Hawaiian Air, Uzbekistan Airways, and Air New Zealand in weighing customers has raised questions and concerns. Last year, Korean passengers expressed frustration over a new law requiring domestic carriers to weigh passengers and their carry-on luggage at least once every five years.
While Finnair strives to prioritize flight safety and balance calculations, it remains essential to balance the needs and comfort of passengers, particularly as the airline industry continues to evolve and address customer concerns.
