Latest News

Back to Latest News back

 

Airlines face demands caused by oversize passengers

Airlines face demands caused by oversize passengers
August 13, 2019

Following reports that climbing rates of obesity may force Australian airlines to recalculate the average weight of their customers, a senior Qantas executive has advised that carriers will not be charging their passengers based on how much they weigh.

As reported by Global Travel Media, the concept surfaced briefly at TravelManagers’ national conference in Perth at the weekend, in the form of a question put to the head of Qantas’ 787 Dreamliner program, Peter O’Donohue.

O’Donohue said there was no prospect of passengers being charged on a per-weight basis as airlines are not allowed to discriminate on grounds of weight.

The pay-by-weight formula - seen as potentially being the ultimate extension of user-pays - has been put into practice by some smaller oversea carriers but has never been adopted by major airlines.

With World Health Organization (WHO) data showing that global obesity rates have more than doubled since 1980 and two thirds of the Australian population being either overweight or obese, the issue highlights the conflict between airlines’ needs to generate income and basic passenger rights.

Writing for Global Travel Media, Peter Needham explains that “every traveller’s nightmare - being seated next to an enormous passenger who bulges into their space - is an increasingly likely prospect.

“Passengers who claim to have been squished and injured have launched lawsuits over the issue.”

To counter this, The Australian newspaper reported at the weekend that air safety regulators in Australia are considering adding an extra 5kg to the estimated average passenger weight.

Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA), which regulates air safety, is preparing to update average passenger weights for commercial airlines for the first time in 30 years, with many suspecting the existing regulations no longer reflect reality in these fatter times.

Airlines use CASA guidelines to help calculate the gross weight of an aircraft - which must be within certain limits to fly.

Currently, for the B737-800s and A320s that form the backbone of Australian domestic air transport, airlines are advised to assume an average 81.8kg for men and 66.7kg for women.

However, as The Australian reported, the 2017/18 national health survey shows the average weight of an Australian man has risen to 87kg and 71.8kg for women - while 67% of the population is now overweight or obese.

Back in 1990 when CASA calculated its guidelines, just 36.5% of the population fell into that category.

Related Articles

24th July 2019 - ExerciseNZ calls for action on New Zealand’s obesity epidemic and physical inactivity crisis

20th June 2019 - Research recommends aquatic activity for overweight children

17th May 2019 - Cultural approaches to activity the key to tackling obesity for women

21st April 2019 - Queensland Government to end junk food advertising in bid to address rising obesity

15th February 2019 - Fitness Australia to join World Health Organization dialogue on global action plan for Physical Activity

12th December 2018 - Deakin University launch first report that ranks Australian obesity policies on value for money

18th October 2018 - Obesity Summit focuses on five-year plan for early intervention and weight management in Western Australia

25th March 2018 - Otago researchers reveal childhood predictors of becoming overweight or obese

1st March 2018 - New Report says supermarkets must do more in fight against obesity

29th January 2016 - Childhood obesity rates to soar without urgent government intervention

30th May 2014 - Study shows Australian obesity rates rising faster than anywhere else in the world


Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.

 

supplier directory

The Complete Guide to Leisure Industry Products & Services.

See the directory see all

revolutioniseSPORT

revolutioniseSPORT is the emerging market leader in online club management in Australia. Whether it is memberships, registrations, events, online sales or governance tools - revolutioniseSPORT is the…

read more

Recreation / Sport / Technology

 
 

VITEC

Stadiums and venues around the world recognise that success hinges on more than just what happens on the pitch. More than ever, fan engagement within each facility is a critical part of the overall…

read more

Entertainment / Sport / Technology / Venues

 
 

PaySmart

Headquartered in Brisbane with an Australia-wide network of satellite offices, PaySmart is one of Australia’s largest and longest-standing direct debit billing companies. In 1996 we began…

read more

Access / Billing / Fitness / Technology

 
 
 

Hydrocare Pool Services

Hydrocare Pool Services Pty Ltd offer 30 years of experience in aquatic industry features, products and water treatment. Hydrocare Pools has undertaken water treatment for aquatic centres and…

read more

Aquatics / Attractions / Play / Recreation / Technology

 
 

BH Fitness

BH Fitness, part of the long-standing and iconic bike manufacturer BH Group, is a global leader in fitness equipment for both Commercial and Home markets. The company, with the headquarters based in…

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Sport / Technology / Wellness

 
 

Ticketworx Pty Ltd

Ticketworx (formerly House of Tickets) is Australia and New Zealand’s foremost ticket specialist servicing some 2,700 clients and producing in excess of 30 million per tickets per annum.…

read more

Entertainment / Events / Technology / Ticketing / Venues

 
 

GymMaster

Contact: Australia: (+61) 1800 849 001 New Zealand: (+64) 3 668 5727 International: (+1) 415 915 0375

read more

Fitness / Recreation / Technology

 
 
 
 

get listed with our suppliers directory

Get your business noticed in our targeted directory. Viewed by 10,000 industry professionals per week!

list your business