It is not unusual for airlines to have certain rules for their passengers before they can buy a ticket or board a flight. Air travel anyway has several rules and regulations that passengers must take heed of before being allowed on board.

Specifically for flight boarding, several airlines have notices that the baggage should be so and so weight, certain items must not be with the passenger and various others.

However, this New Zealand airline is currently in the news for planning to weigh its passengers before being allowed to board their international flights. Apparently, this is going to be part of a survey that the airline is holding.

What Is This New Zealand Airline Doing?

According to reports, New Zealand’s national airline, Air New Zealand, will be carrying out a weight survey from May 31-July 2, 2023 where they will require passengers to be weighed before boarding international flights.

It is estimated that more than 10,000 passengers in the month of June will be asked be weighed before they can be allowed to board their flights.

As per a CNN report, this is supposed to be the airline’s ‘passenger weight survey’ under which the airline plans on collecting data for weight load and distribution in planes. Air New Zealand also claims that knowing the average passenger weight could let them be fuel efficient in the future.


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The monthlong survey is said to be for the pilots so that they can understand the weight and balance of an airplane before it takes off.

Also, it won’t be a public scaling of the weight, the numbers will be kept confidential and anonymous even to airline staff. So there needs to be no worry that the weight numbers will be broadcast out to all the passengers and possibly cause awkwardness for the passengers.

Alastair James, a load control improvement specialist with Air New Zealand stated that “We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft — from the cargo to the meals onboard, to the luggage in the hold,” and how “For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”

According to the airline this “essential” initiative will ensure “the safe and efficient operation of the aircraft”. The airline in a statement added that “Now that international travel is back up and running, it’s time for international flyers to weigh in.”

Apparently, the process will be that passengers are going to be asked to step on a digital scal before checking-in for their flight, and on another identical scake their luggage will be weighed. The weight numbers of both will then be submitted into the survey but not shown to everyone.

James was quoted saying that “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.”

Participation into the survey is also expected to be voluntary and not mandatory for all passengers.


Image Credits: Google Images

Feature Image designed by Saudamini Seth

Sources: AP News, India Today, CNN

Find the blogger: @chirali_08

This post is tagged under: Air New Zealand, Air New Zealand new rule, Air New Zealand passenger, new Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, New Zealand airline, New Zealand airline new rule, New Zealand airline passenger weight

Disclaimer: We do not hold any right, copyright over any of the images used, these have been taken from Google. In case of credits or removal, the owner may kindly mail us.


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