Do you have to take off your shoes before stepping on the scale? This is the question that Air New Zealand passengers are now asking. The New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority commissioned a survey from the airline, aiming to collect data on aircraft load and weight distribution. Indeed, the masses on board as well as their distribution within the aircraft are essential technical data, in particular to ensure safety throughout the flight. “Weighing you will help us fly you safely and efficiently every time,” the New Zealand-based airline said in a statement.
Instead of simply weighing their luggage, travelers are now encouraged to weigh themselves on a digital scale upon check-in. Participation, based on voluntary work, remains discreet. “We know stepping on the scale can be intimidating. We want to reassure our passengers that no data will be visible anywhere,” says Alastair James, Air New Zealand load control improvement specialist.
The data is anonymous, only accessible within the framework of the survey. This initiative is not new, however, since in 2021, the company weighed its passengers at the national level. What’s new is that it now focuses on passengers traveling overseas from Auckland, as the international investigation was delayed due to the pandemic.
Air New Zealand, through this initiative, wants to calculate more accurately the average weight of a passenger: a survey was carried out in 2003 by the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), which revealed that the average weight of a passenger and their carry-on luggage was 85.4 kilograms, according to Forbes. “We weigh everything on the plane – from cargo, to on-board meals, to checked baggage,” Alastair James recalled.
The airline launched a 17-hour non-stop journey last fall from Auckland Airport to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. This route, which is one of the longest in the world, should be included in the survey.
