Korean Air, South Korea’s national airline, has begun weighing passengers and their carry-on items as a new boarding procedure for both domestic and international flights. This initiative aims to boost flight safety and align with aviation regulations.
From August 28 to September 6, passengers flying domestically from Gimpo International Airport will experience this new procedure. International passengers at Incheon International Airport will undergo the same from September 8 to September 19.
The Korea Times reports that individual passenger data will be kept anonymous and is intended exclusively for safety considerations. For those preferring privacy, an opt-out choice is available upon notifying the airline staff during boarding.
The motive behind this measure is to achieve more accurate aircraft weight calculations. Typically, planes carry excess fuel, but precise weight data from passengers could decrease fuel consumption. It is estimated that this could lead to an impressive annual saving of around $1 billion.
To give some context, a 2017 survey in Korea determined weight standards for adults: 81 kg for males and 69 kg for females. In comparison, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration recommends weight standards of 88.4 kg for males and 70.3 kg for females.
The Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport requires airlines to measure passenger weights every five years. Significantly, Korean Air is now incorporating carry-on baggage in these weight assessments.
Globally, other airlines like Hawaiian Airlines and Finnair have also adopted similar practices. Notably, Korean domestic carriers T’way Air and Jeju Air have previously implemented such weight checks.
In related news, due to travel restrictions from the COVID-19 pandemic, unredeemed mileage points for major Korean airlines, including Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, soared to 3.4 trillion won in the first half of 2023. To aid travelers, the government and airlines agreed to prolong mileage expiration dates by up to 30 months.
