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Weigh and pay: The new way to fly
If you weigh more, you'll pay more. That seems to be the rationale for a Malaysian-based airline in its battle against soaring fuel costs.
- By Shakir Husain, Staff Reporter
- Published: 23:25 August 4, 2008
Dubai: If you weigh more, you'll pay more. That seems to be the rationale for a Malaysian-based airline in its battle against soaring fuel costs.
AirAsia X, a long-haul carrier, says it is considering weighing passengers - along with their luggage - at the check-in counter.
The airline's general manager. Darren Wright, told Australian media outlets that as well as bringing in extra revenues to help with soaring fuel costs, the move would "help Aussies lose weight."
Acknowledging that the measure would be difficult to implement, Wright said the new weighing system would enable the airline to calculate the remaining weight allowance to be used for more cargo.
"It is an unusual move [to fight rising costs]," London-based aviation analyst John Strickland told Gulf News. "I do not think it is going earn them significant revenues."
He added it "may seem brutal" to weigh passengers, but in the climate of rising fuel costs, airlines need to scrutinise planes' weight.
Emirates recently said it will remove all on-board paper such has magazines in an effort to boost fuel economy.
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