Airline Implements Passenger Weighing Policy Before Boarding

Korean Air’s Passenger Weighing Test Details

Korean Air will weigh passengers and their baggage as part of a safety test in August and September. This initiative aligns with the regulations set by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The test will be conducted on both domestic and international flights, as Korea JoongAng Daily reported. Passengers will have the option to opt out by notifying an airline employee.

“Korean Air passengers will be asked to step on scales with their carried-on items at each boarding gate,” a Korean Air official explained to the Korea JoongAng Daily. “The data collected anonymously will be used for survey purposes and does not indicate that overweight passengers will incur additional charges.”

The test will occur for domestic flights from August 28 to September 6 at Gimpo International Airport, and for international flights from September 8 to September 19 at Incheon International Airport.

Importance of Weight and Balance in Aviation

“Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transportation (MOLIT) has advised all Korean flag carriers to weigh passengers along with their carry-on baggage to update its ‘Aircraft Weight and Balance Management Standards,'” the airline confirmed in a statement to iBestTravel on Thursday. “This is vital for the safety of flight operations, and Korean Air adheres to this mandate while remaining steadfast in its commitment to safety as the top priority.”

The average weight and balance are crucial elements in aircraft operations. Consequently, the lighter an aircraft is, the less effort its engines must exert, leading to lower fuel consumption and increased flight distances. These insights are supported by the National Air and Space Museum.

Moreover, weight significantly impacts aircraft design, which in turn affects an airline’s financial performance. The National Air and Space Museum elaborated that “every bit of weight saved in construction means extra payload (more luggage and/or passengers) can be carried, thereby enhancing profitability for the airline.”

Other Airlines Following Suit

Korean Air is not the only airline implementing such measures. Earlier this year, Air New Zealand similarly weighed its international air passengers. Similar to Korean Air, this testing was mandated by the Civil Aviation Authority.

Korean Air, which is part of the SkyTeam Alliance, is also recognized for serving traditional Korean cuisine during flights, such as bibimbap and ssambap, as well as providing some of the most innovative amenity kits available in the sky.