The future of aviation: Weighing passangers
Mandatory Weighing Procedures Unveiled by Korean Air
Embarking on a regulatory mandate, Korean Air announces a comprehensive weighing procedure for passengers boarding its flights from Seoul. The initiation, dictated by South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, spans from August 28 to September 6 for domestic flights originating at Gimpo International Airport. Subsequently, between September 8 and 19, international flights from Incheon International Airport will enact the same protocol. This recurrent practice, occurring every five years, plays a pivotal role in updating standardized passenger weights. Beyond procedural compliance, the data acquired proves instrumental in precisely calculating aircraft weight, determining optimal fuel levels, and ensuring a balanced load distribution for enhanced safety.
Balancing Act: Privacy Concerns and Environmental Impact
Despite its procedural significance, Korean Air's move to mandate passenger weighing encounters pushback rooted in privacy concerns. The airline emphasizes that the collected data is anonymized and employed solely for survey purposes, alleviating fears of potential financial repercussions for overweight passengers. Notably, passengers have the option to opt out by expressing their reservations to boarding staff at the gates. This echoes a broader industry trend as Air New Zealand similarly executed passenger weigh-ins in June. While regulatory requirements drive these initiatives in countries like South Korea and New Zealand, U.S. airlines, in contrast, currently refrain from utilizing scales at check-in desks, citing privacy considerations. The industry remains at a juncture where safety, regulatory compliance, and passenger privacy converge, demanding a delicate balance (Businesstravelerusa, 2023).