Korean Air will weigh passengers and their carry-on baggage before boarding international flights departing from Incheon International Airport starting September 8. This policy will remain in effect until September 19.
Korean Air recently announced on its website that this move is in line with the regulations set by South Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. These weight measurements aim to standardize and ensure the safety of airline operations.
While international passengers at Incheon International Airport will be subject to this policy from September 8 to September 19, domestic passengers traveling through Gimpo Airport will undergo the same process from September 28 to October 6.
Korean Air has reassured its customers that all data will be collected anonymously. The airline has also requested that passengers notify the staff upon boarding if they prefer not to be weighed.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport periodically calculates standard weights of passengers, baggage, pilots, and cabin crew for aircraft weight and balance control, adhering to the ‘Aircraft Weight and Balance Control Guideline’ established in 2006.
To protect the privacy of individuals, Clause 2 of Article 45 of the guideline mandates that the scale measurements remain confidential and not be disclosed to the public. Furthermore, any data concerning passenger weight must be kept undisclosed.
It’s worth noting that other South Korean airlines have adopted similar practices in the past. T’way Air weighed passengers in January of this year, while Jeju Air did so in December of the previous year.
Internationally, Air New Zealand also took a similar initiative on May 30, requiring passengers to be weighed over the following five-week period. The airline emphasized that such measures, mandated by aviation authorities, ensure operational safety.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) provided advisory guidance in 2019, advising airlines to weigh passengers before boarding. The guidance also allows for an additional 10 pounds to account for clothing.
BY NAKI PARK [park.naki@koreadaily.com]
