Drama As Popular Airline Begins Weigh-In for Passengers Before Takeoff

Drama As Popular Airline Begins Weigh-In for Passengers Before Takeoff

  • Finnair, Finland's top airline, introduced a new measure requiring passengers to weigh themselves
  • These measures include the lifting of their carry-on luggage before they can board the aircraft
  • This initiative seeks to guarantee that the combined weight of passengers and their luggage stays within safe parameters before the aircraft takes off

Legit.ng journalist Segun Adeyemi has over 9 years of experience covering political events, civil societies, courts, and metro

Helsinki, Finland - Finnair, Finland's leading airline, announced a new initiative where passengers must weigh themselves with their carry-on bags before boarding.

The airline assures that these weigh-ins will be completely optional and anonymous.

Finnair made the announcement on Friday, February 9.
Countries like Korea and the United States have already commenced the same policy. Photo Credit: Jussi Nukari
Source: Getty Images

This measure aims to ensure that passengers' total weight and belongings remain within safe limits for takeoff.

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Finnair shared this update on its website, as reported by ABC News on Friday, February 9, highlighting the need to refresh weight averages last assessed in 2018.

Finnair emphasised the significance of accurately gauging the combined weight of passengers and cargo to uphold the balance and stability of their aircraft during flights.

They highlighted the necessity of adhering to aviation regulations, which mandate updating passenger weight averages every five years.

Satu Munnukka, Finnair's Ground Processes Lead, clarified that the weight data is solely used for crucial calculations to ensure flight safety.

Furthermore, Munnukka assured that the collected data would be wholly dissociated from customers' personal information.

According to CNN, Munnukka said:

“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.”

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Munnukka announced that data collection will commence this month and continue until May.

After Finnish authorities approve, the data will be utilised for aircraft balance calculations beginning next year.

Munnukka added that:

“In the previous measurements five years ago, a good number of volunteers wanted to participate in the weighing, and we hope to have a good sample of volunteers, both business and leisure travelers, also this time, so that we can get the most accurate information possible for important balance calculations."

Other countries with passenger weighing policy

Finnair has followed the lead of several other airlines, including Korean Air, Hawaiian Air, Uzbekistan Airways, and Air New Zealand, by introducing passenger weighing protocols.

Last year, Korean Air passengers were taken aback by a new regulation requiring them to be weighed alongside their carry-on bags every five years on domestic flights.

The US Federal Aviation Administration also issued guidelines on calculating passenger weights in its Advisory Circular 120-27F.

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This implies that Airlines can use average, survey-based, or actual weights to calculate the aircraft’s weight and balance.

Another new Nigerian airport set to commence operation

Elsewhere in Nigeria, the Taraba State government has set a date to commission its second airport.

Goodluck Jonathan has been invited to grace the commissioning ceremony scheduled for late February.

The state government has set up a committee to ensure the seamless preparation and execution of the commissioning ceremony.

Source: Legit.ng

Authors:
Segun Adeyemi avatar

Segun Adeyemi (Current Affairs and Politics Editor) Segun Adeyemi is a journalist with over 9 years of experience as an active field reporter, editor, and editorial manager. He has had stints with Daily Trust newspaper, Daily Nigerian, and News Digest. He currently works as an editor for Legit.ng's current affairs and politics desk. He holds a degree in Mass Communication (Adekunle Ajasin University). He is a certified digital reporter by Reuters, AFP and the co-convener of the annual campus journalism awards. Email: segun.adeyemi@corp.legit.ng.