Through July 2, 2023, Air New Zealand requires its national airline to weigh passengers boarding international flights from Auckland International Airport.
The program, which Air New Zealand refers to as a passenger weight survey, is designed to collect information on the weight burden and distribution of aircraft, according to the airline.
Air New Zealand To Weigh Passengers
Alastair James, the airline’s load control enhancement specialist, said in a statement, “Everything that goes on the aircraft is weighed, from the cargo to the meals onboard to the luggage in the hold.” For customers, personnel, and cabin baggage, we use the average weights obtained from this survey.
However, weight is a private matter that not everyone wishes to reveal. To safeguard individuals’ privacy, the airline claims to have anonymized the data.
When checking in for their flight, passengers will be required to stand on a digital scale. The weight information is then submitted to the survey but is not displayed on the agent’s interface. Additionally, they will weigh their luggage on a second identical scale. Air New Zealand has previously required passengers to weigh themselves before boarding flights. The survey of domestic commuters was conducted in 2021, but the survey of international travelers was delayed due to the pandemic.
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Flight From Auckland To JFK Airport
Among those who may be asked to participate in the survey are passengers on the direct flight from Auckland to JFK Airport in New York City. The 17-hour flagship route was introduced in the autumn of 2016 as a cornerstone of Air New Zealand’s post-pandemic strategy. It is also one of the world’s longest voyages.
According to the company, the decision to weigh passengers is part of a voluntary survey the airline is conducting to collect information and data about weight and cargo distribution on its aircraft. At the entrance of select gate facilities at Auckland International Airport, digital scales will be installed. According to Air New Zealand, passengers’ weight information will be submitted as part of the survey, but will not be displayed on the agent’s screen.
From May 29 to July 2, more than 10,000 international passengers will be asked to participate in a survey that began on May 29. Air New Zealand conducted a comparable survey for domestic passengers in 2021, but its international survey was delayed due to travel restrictions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.
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