Finnair, Finland’s flagship airline, has announced a new initiative requiring passengers to voluntarily weigh themselves along with their carry-on luggage before boarding.
The airline emphasized that these weigh-ins are anonymous and optional, aimed at ensuring aircraft safety by maintaining optimal weight distribution.
According to a statement on Finnair’s website, the initiative aims to update weight averages last assessed in 2018, crucial for maintaining flight stability and balance, as reported by The Punch.
Finnair collects its own data to determine passenger weight averages, as mandated by aviation regulations requiring updates every five years.
Satu Munnukka, Finnair’s Ground Processes Lead, clarified that the collected data would be used solely for essential calculations to ensure flight safety, with passenger privacy being strictly upheld.
“We record the total weight and background information of the customer and their carry-on baggage, but we do not ask for the name or booking number, for example.
“Only the customer service agent working at the measuring point can see the total weight, so you can participate in the study with peace of mind.”
Munnukka assured passengers that the process would be discreet, with only the service agent overseeing the weigh-in having access to the total weight data.
Data collection will occur from this month through May, with Finnish authorities reviewing and approving the information for aircraft balance calculations commencing next year.
In past measurements, Finnair noted significant volunteer participation, aiming for a similar response this time to ensure accurate balance calculations.
Finnair joins other airlines like Korean Air, Hawaiian Air, Uzbekistan Airways, and Air New Zealand in implementing passenger weighing procedures, reflecting a broader trend in the aviation industry.
The move aligns with global aviation standards, with the US Federal Aviation Administration providing guidance on various methods for determining passenger weights to ensure aircraft safety and balance.
