Finland's national carrier Finnair has started weighing passengers its flights the capital city of Helsinki. The weigh-ins are being done a voluntary basis and are completely anonymous. A company spokesperson said the new initiative is to ensure safety standards flights are adhered to. He said any airplane should not exceed the prescribed maximum weight safe take-offs and landings. This weight is made of the aircraft itself, the fuel, checked baggage and cargo, onboard catering, water tanks, and passengers. Finnair said airlines never know the exact weight passengers and their carry- baggage, so they have to rely average estimates provided aviation authorities.
Passengers who volunteer to be weighed are stepping weighing scales the departure gates Helsinki Airport. Finnair officials were initially concerned a customer backlash because weight is such a personal issue. However, the first week of the tests, over 1,000 passengers had agreed to be weighed. The company said: "We hope to have a good sample volunteers, both business and leisure travellers, so that we can get the most accurate information possible important balance calculations." It added: "Our customers have taken it really positively so far." An official said travellers could "rest assured" and have "peace mind" that their weight would not be linked to their personal data.
