Air New Zealand wants more than 10,000 international travellers to step on the scales and be weighed. But it’s not a sizeist move to see if you can fit into the sweet-as Skynest pods, the carrier is conducting a passenger weight survey for operational safety.
Taking place at the gate lounge entrance of select Air NZ flights departing from Auckland International Airport between 29 May and 2 July 2023, the voluntary weigh-in will ensure the safe and efficient operation of aircraft and is a Civil Aviation Authority requirement.
Air NZ weighed passengers on its domestic network in 2021. Now international travel is back, it’s time for long-haul flyers to weigh in as part of the pre-boarding process.
Air New Zealand Load Control Improvement Specialist Alastair James explained that before each takeoff, the pilot needs to know the weight and balance of the loaded aircraft.
“We weigh everything that goes on the aircraft – from the cargo to the meals onboard to the luggage in the hold,” he said.
“For customers, crew and cabin bags, we use average weights, which we get from doing this survey.”
For Air NZ passengers who are hesitant about jumping on those scales, Mr James said there is nothing to fear.
“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. It’s completely anonymous,” he said.
For more info, head to airnewzealand.com
