Korean Air will weigh its passengers and their carry-on baggage ahead of flights over the next two months, as it seeks to comply with aviation laws.
Customers will be asked to stand on a digital scale when they check in for their flight. The information about their weight is then submitted to the survey but will not be viewable on the agent’s screen.
In May 2023 , Air New Zealand was in news for weighing passengers before they board international flights, as part of a survey to determine average passenger weight, though the exercise was completely voluntary.
The data is also used to devise a plan for the optimal way to distribute weight within an aircraft , along with measures to reduce fuel costs.
According to aviation regulations set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in South Korea, air carriers are required to give the average weights of passengers it carries in each aircraft at least once every five years, in order to provide data for the standard weight of an aircraft in flight.
"Passengers on domestic flights will be asked to weigh in from Aug. 28 through Sept. 6, while international flight passengers will be weighed from Sept. 8 to 19."
As mentioned earlier , the weight-measuring process will take place prior to boarding. Those who do not wish to partake in the process can notify the staff that they wish to opt-out and board as usual. The measurement data will be collected anonymously.
The move is aimed at flight safety, and the data is also used to determine optimal weight distribution within an aircraft and fuel reduction measures.
Measurements will be taken from August 28 to September 6 at Gimpo Airport for domestic passengers and from September 8 to 19 at Incheon Airport for passengers on international flights.
The process will take place at the boarding gates, and data will be collected anonymously. Passengers can choose to opt out of the process and board as usual.
Korean Air's measurement of passenger weights during its last exercise in 2017 produced results, where the average weight for an adult male passenger was recorded at 81 kilograms, while the average weight for an adult woman stood at 69 kilograms.
