By Sharad Ranabhat
Air New Zealand is weighing international passengers before they board certain flights out of Auckland International Airport through July 2, 2023. The airline says the weight survey is necessary to ensure the safe and efficient operation of its aircraft.
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has requested the flag carrier to weigh passengers who are departing on international flights from Auckland International Airport as a Civil Aviation Authority requirement.
“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft – from the cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold,” said Alastair James, Air New Zealand’s load control improvement specialist. “For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”
According to the Kiwi carrier, the weight will be anonymously recorded in a database and it won’t be visible to airline staff or other passengers. The airline further says that the data collected from the survey will be used to improve the weight distribution of its aircraft. This will help to reduce the risk of accidents and improve fuel efficiency.
The weight survey is voluntary and passengers are not required to participate if they do not wish to.
“It’s simple, it’s voluntary, and by weighing in, you’ll be helping us to fly you safely and efficiently, every time. We know stepping on the scales can be daunting. We want to reassure our customers there is no visible display anywhere. No one can see your weight – not even us! It’s completely anonymous.”
Alastair James, Air New Zealand Load Control Improvement Specialist
Domestic passengers were previously involved in a similar survey in 2021, while the survey for international travellers was postponed due to the impact of the pandemic.
It is worth noting that Air New Zealand is not the first airline to weigh passengers before flights. This practice has been employed by several airlines in the Pacific region for many years to gather data for weight and balance calculations. However, it remains relatively uncommon in other parts of the world, and the success of this survey may lead other airlines to adopt similar procedures in the future.
The weight survey is part of a wider effort by airlines to improve safety and efficiency. Airlines are also working to reduce the environmental impact of their flights. By weighing passengers and cargo, airlines can ensure that their aircraft are loaded in a way that minimizes fuel consumption and emissions.
Feature Image via Air New Zealand
Courtesy
