The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand has made plans for its national airline to begin weighing passengers prior to flights departing from Auckland International Airport.
According to report, the program, which is scheduled to run until July 2, is being referred to as a passenger weight survey and will provide information regarding the weight load and distribution for Air New Zealand’s international flights.
Alastair James, the airline’s load control improvement specialist, was quoted as saying, “We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft — from the cargo to the meals onboard to the luggage in the hold.”
“For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey,” he added.
The airline claims that the weight records will remain hidden and anonymous throughout the process.
During pre-flight check-in, passengers will be expected to stand on a digital scale. The information will reportedly be entered into a database, but the in-person agent will not be able to see it.
“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,” James continued in his statement.
According to the airline, this is the first time the rule will apply to international travelers. In 2021, during a survey, Air NZ required passengers to weigh themselves.
The first group to participate in the new program will be those who fly directly from Auckland to JFK Airport in New York.
One of the longest flights in the world, the 17-hour flight was introduced last fall as a milestone in Air NZ’s post-pandemic revamp.