In a potentially divisive move, a European airline has initiated the practice of weighing passengers before they board the plane.

Finnair, based in Finland, has begun “measuring” passengers departing from Helsinki, with the voluntary participation of travelers. The measurements, which include both passengers and their carry-on luggage, aim to assist the airline in better estimating the aircraft’s weight before takeoff.

Kaisa Tikkanen, a spokesperson for Finnair, stated that the initiative began at Helsinki Airport and has seen the participation of over 500 volunteer customers. The airline emphasizes that the collected data is not linked to any personal information and is solely intended to enhance the safety of flights.

Factors such as a person’s class of travel, gender, and age will also be considered in the weight calculations. Finnair asserts that only the customer service agent at the measuring point can access the total weight data, ensuring participant privacy.

Communications director Päivyt Tallqvist explained that the initiative is part of the airline’s commitment to a robust safety culture. The goal is to assess the accuracy of the data used for calculations, which plays a crucial role in the performance of the aircraft.

Finnair is not the pioneer in implementing such measures, as Korean Air introduced a similar scheme in the previous year. While some passengers may find this practice unusual, the airline emphasizes its commitment to ensuring accurate data for flight calculations and emphasizes that passengers generally understand the safety rationale behind the initiative.