There is a European airline that weighs departing passengers. And hand luggage ends up on the scales, too
Fuel, cargo, in-flight catering including toilet water, checked luggage. Before each flight, the [...]
Finnair
Oneworld
HEL
Fuel, cargo, on-board catering including toilet water, checked luggage. Before each flight, airlines meticulously calculate the weight of what's on board and then distribute the load so that the aircraft is balanced, an essential factor for safety especially during takeoff. They are unable, however, to know exactly the total weight of the passengers and their hand luggage.
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For this, make use of tables developed by ICAO or, in the case of European carriers, Easa, the European Flight Safety Authority. The Easa figure released in late 2022 speaks of an average European passenger weight of 84kg, of which 7.7kg is carry-on baggage.
There are, however, airlines that prefer 'do-it-yourself' and actually measure passengers and their belongings on special scales. However, they must take these measurements every five years so that they always have up-to-date data.
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A few days ago and throughout February and then again in April and May, Finnair passengers are getting on the scale. Of course, not all of them. Otherwise the famous Scandinavian punctuality would go out the window. But a sample, chosen at random, between A mix of passengers flying on Schengen routes and passengers flying on long-haul routes Of the Finnish carrier.
Measurements take place at the company's hub in Helsinki Vantaa, both in the Schengen part of the departure area and in the non-Schengen part. E are on a voluntary basis. "Only the attendant at the scale sees the weight of the person (and their carry-on baggage), which remains totally anonymous. The attendant simply notes the gender of the person weighed and their age, but not the flight they are about to board," writes Satu Mannukka, Finnair's ground procedures manager, in a note.
The results of this survey will be submitted between July and September to the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency, which will have to verify the effectiveness of the measurements made. Once it receives the okay from the agency, Finnair will use the metrics measured in recent months To carry out the proper loading and balancing of its aircraft In the five years between 2025 and 2030, when a new 'weighing' will be necessary.
