Weighing in: The aviation industry’s approach to passenger weight trends and what travel managers should consider

Introduction

The enduring quest for enhanced health and fitness resounds anew, a testament to our collective ambition. This determination, unwavering as the tides, finds itself at the forefront once again recently in China, spotlighted by the cinematic success of the local production of "Spicy and Scorching.", which depicts the main character having lose around 100 pounds and achieving career success. More than mere entertainment, this film deftly shines a light on the discreetly discussed issue of body weight.

With affluence comes increased living standards and, concomitantly, obesity emerges as a significant factor that the aviation industry can no longer overlook when catering to jet-setting patrons. Highlighted by "The China National Nutrition and Health Survey", a notable shift is unveiled: the average weight of Chinese men has escalated from 62.7 kg in 1985 to 69.6 kg in 2020.

Of course, this trend is not limited to China: all developed countries around the world are experiencing the same phenomenon. The "growth" in body size presents new challenges for the aviation industry: how to ensure that all passengers can travel safely and comfortably?

Finnair recently conducted voluntary passenger weigh-ins at the Helsinki Airport, which sparked public controversy and discussion; at the same time, Air New Zealand has started requiring passengers on international flights to be weighed beginning in 2023. Some criticize this move as a potential violation of personal dignity and privacy, but there are also voices that say it is a necessary means to ensure flight safety. Whether "weighing is necessary" and "how to implement it" are issues that airlines need to explore deeply—they need to find a balance between flight safety and protecting passenger privacy, and in the process, discover new business opportunities.

The physical requirements of flight safety

The safe operation of an aircraft relies on complex and accurate physical calculations to determine the necessary thrust and fuel for different stages like takeoff, cruising, and landing. The structural load-bearing capacity of an airplane, the calculation of its range, the required runway length for takeoff, and the impact of meteorological conditions on flight... all require consideration of weight changes on board. Thus, precise weight measurements are crucial for flight safety—inaccurate weight estimates can lead to overloading or uneven load distribution, which may result in poor flight performance, inappropriate operation response, or even safety incidents.

When airlines plan a flight, they calculate the total load by integrating the estimated weight of passengers and luggage, the weight of onboard reserves, etc., and adjust the fuel load accordingly. Hence, with global population weight trends changing, regularly updating the average passenger weight is particularly important—this can make calculations as close to reality as possible.

European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) publishes passenger weight trend study

The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), based on voluntary weigh-in data from 2022, has updated its passenger weight data. The survey found that the average passenger weight is 75.6 kg, carrying an average of 7.6 kg of hand luggage. Compared to the last similar survey conducted in 2009, the passenger weight has increased by 1.1 kg and hand luggage by 1.5 kg.

Passengers are generally heavier in winter than in summer due to clothing. The average passenger weight in summer is 74.0 kg, in winter 76.8 kg; hand luggage averages 7.3 kg in summer and 7.9 kg in winter.

The 2022 study further revealed the impact of cabin class on weight distribution. The average weight of economy and premium economy passengers is 75.4 kg, while the passengers in two-cabin classes weigh an average of 90.9 kg. This difference is attributed to a higher proportion of male passengers in the two-cabin classes.

Airlines' response measures

Civil aviation regulatory agencies of various countries basically do not restrict passenger weight, and airlines generally do not charge extra fees based on weight. However, a portion of airlines may implement special policies for passengers who occupy more space for safety considerations and operating costs—for example, requiring the purchase of an additional seat or a self-paid upgrade to more spacious seating.

An extreme case is Samoa Airways in the South Pacific. Their ticket pricing model charges based on the passenger's weight and flight distance, meaning the heavier the passenger, the higher the cost of the airfare.

Now, some airlines have begun to treat travellers needing extra space considerations specially—such as requiring the purchase of extra seats or self-funded upgrades to more spacious seats. However, this practice is not widespread and has raised considerable controversy over privacy and discrimination. For example, there have been cases where American citizens have written to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), demanding a clear "Customer-of-size policy" from airlines.

Service: Adjusting seats for increased comfort

In the past decade, the standard size of airplane seats has hardly changed; low-cost airlines have even reduced seat pitch to fit more passengers.

However, airlines have begun to shift to more ergonomic seat designs, stronger, and thinner seat materials, etc. These designs account for passengers' different body shapes, including adjustable armrests, variable-width seats, and even more innovative adjustments to the backrest angle to ensure bodily support and comfort during long flights. This human-centered design is gradually becoming a new standard in the industry.

In addition to hardware innovation, airlines are also improving reservation systems and service policies. For example, some airlines now allow passengers to select "extra seats for one person" when booking, and some even offer this service at no extra cost.?

Legal and privacy protection

While the aviation industry is introducing weighing measures to obtain accurate flight weight data, it must also pay attention to the requirements of privacy protection laws. Personal weight information is considered sensitive health data and is strictly controlled in most countries worldwide, including China. When airlines collect this information, they must ensure the transparency and security of data collection and provide passengers with control over their data, including the right to access, correct, or delete it.

Airlines should follow the principle of data minimization, collecting only the data necessary for safe flight and anonymizing it as much as possible to reduce invasions of personal privacy. When implementing weighing, appropriate measures should be taken to avoid collecting personally identifiable information. For example, using random sampling or encouraging passengers to voluntarily provide their weight information, while ensuring data is stored and used in a secure manner.

Corporate travel policy

In terms of corporate travel policy development, this issue involves company culture and policy, fairness, and considerations for employee health and welfare. Whether to pay extra travel expenses for "overweight" employees is not only a practical issue but also a sensitive ethical and legal one.

When deciding to incur additional travel expenses, businesses must find a reasonable compromise between complying with legal requirements, ensuring policy fairness, and controlling costs. For instance, if an employee needs to upgrade to a higher cabin class due to health issues (e.g., herniated disc) but the standard travel policy confines them to the economy class, then the company must face the challenge of how to handle this particular situation. If a company lacks a clear travel policy to address such cases, it may find itself in a decision-making dilemma.

Pragmatically, businesses may need to ensure that all employees have safe and comfortable space while traveling. This could mean paying for larger seats for larger-bodied employees, such as business-class or more spacious economy-class seats. However, businesses must weigh the cost and budget considerations when deciding to pay extra fees.

At the same time, legal regulations such as labour laws prohibit companies from differentiating employees based on personal factors such as weight, which are not professional requirements. Therefore, businesses should consider the related legal risks when developing and implementing travel policies. Therefore, any expense-related policies need to be consistent and applied fairly and equitably to all employees. This approach can prevent friction and dissatisfaction among colleagues and reduce legal risks. At the same time, if businesses decide to pay these extra expenses, they need to ensure transparent communication and clearly explain policies. Sensitivity is also key here; any discussions should respect employee privacy and dignity.

Therefore, businesses must formulate and implement flexible and detailed travel policies based on their corporate culture, values, and financial situation. This may include taking on extra expenses for special needs or balancing costs and employee satisfaction through other methods to ensure the interests of both businesses and employees are properly cared for and protected.?

Future outlook

The aviation industry needs to balance flight safety and passenger comfort by leveraging technology and innovation. More efficient data analysis tools that employ artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms will help airlines optimize flight operations and offer personalized services. Encouragingpassengers through incentives such as priority boarding to provide weight information voluntarily during check-in can aid in real-time updates, ?and incentivize participation. Additionally, addressing climate change necessitates cleaner and more sustainable flight options, such as lightening aircraft and optimizing flight routes. These efforts aim to create a smarter, more accurate, and eco-friendly aviation sector, benefiting both travelers and the environment.

Feel free to drop me a note if you have any thoughts about this topic.

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