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Participation in the survey is voluntary
Photo: Phil Noble / REUTERS
The Finnish airline Finnair has been asking its passengers to weigh in since this month. The airline would like to be able to better determine the take-off weight of its planes as part of a study, as the company announced in Helsinki. But no one is forced to do so; getting on the scales and taking part in the survey are voluntary.
In order to be able to calculate the actual flight balance of a plane, the airline needs data on the weight of fuel, checked baggage, cargo, food, water and passengers, according to Finnair. Although average data from the aviation authorities can be used, these may be less precise.
Outrage online
The announcement was not well received on social media. Some users are “horrified” by the announcement and fear that overweight passengers in particular could be embarrassed.
One user railed against the airline, saying she wouldn't travel with Finnair because she didn't want to be fat-shamed by a "damn airline." She was told that weighing was voluntary.
Already 500 travelers in Helsinki
So far, around 500 travelers have taken part in the measurement at the airport in the Finnish capital Helsinki, as a Finnair spokeswoman explained. The trolley and backpack should be on the scales. The passengers should be weighed by May.
According to the airline, passengers do not have to worry about publishing their own weight data: the values collected "are in no way linked to the customers' personal data," Finnair said. Only the employees at the scales could see the total weight of the passenger and backpack.