The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has mandated weighing passengers departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport, CNN reports. Air New Zealand serves as the national carrier of New Zealand and operates a fleet of 104 aircraft. This initiative of weighing passengers before flying is part of a survey that aims to collect data on the weight distribution and load of planes.
“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft – from the cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold,” Alastair James, the airline’s load control improvement specialist told CNN in a statement. “For customers, crew, and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”
To respect privacy, Air New Zealand ensures that the collected data remains anonymous. Still, passenger weight is a personal thing that not everyone wishes to disclose.
How Weighing Passengers Will Work
As part of the survey, travelers will be requested to stand on a digital scale during the check-in process. Although the weight information is submitted to the survey, it will not be visible on the agent’s screen. This emphasizes the confidentiality of the data. Passengers will also need to place their luggage on a separate identical scale for weighing.
Air New Zealand acknowledges that stepping on the scale can be intimidating. The airline also wants to assure customers that there is no visible display of their weight anywhere. James emphasized that even the airline staff cannot see the passengers’ weight.
This is not the first time Air New Zealand has implemented such a survey. Domestic passengers participated in a similar initiative in 2021, however, the international survey was delayed due to the pandemic.
In a similar report recently, a traveler shared a story about a fellow passenger who was asked to step on a baggage scale before takeoff due to confusion about her weight. The video, shared earlier this year, has received 1.6 million views, with viewers speculating about possible discrimination against plus-size travelers.
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