Last Update: May 31, 2023, 01:49 AM IST
Air New Zealand’s initiative has raised concerns among passengers, given the personal nature of weight disclosure. (PTI file photo)
The airline refers to this initiative as a “passenger load survey”, claiming it will provide important data on the load weight and distribution of aircraft.
Air New Zealand is implementing a controversial measure that requires passengers to be weighed before boarding international flights from Auckland International Airport until July 2, according to the country’s Civil Aviation Authority.
CNN reported that the airline is referring to this initiative as a “passenger load survey,” claiming it will provide important data on the weight load and distribution of aircraft.
The airline’s load control reform specialist Alistair James assured that the data collected would remain anonymous to protect passengers’ privacy.
Passengers will be asked to step on a digital scale during check-in directly with the information submitted in the survey.
As per the report, given the personal nature of weight disclosure, the initiative has raised concerns among commuters.
However, Air New Zealand emphasizes that the weighing process will be discreet, with no visual display of the different weights.
The practice was earlier implemented for domestic flights in 2021, but its expansion to international passengers was delayed due to the pandemic.
Notably, passengers on the Auckland-New York City route could also be subject to the survey, which as one of the world’s longest flights plays a key role in the airline’s post-pandemic strategy.
