“Charging according to weight and space is a universally accepted principle, not only in transportation, but also in other services,” said Dr Bharat P Bhatta of Norway’s Sogn og Fjordane University College.
“As weight and space are far more important in aviation than other modes of transport, airlines should take this into account when pricing their tickets.”
“I think the simplest way to implement this would be for passengers to declare their weight when buying a plane ticket. This would save time and eliminate expense,” the professor told The Daily Telegraph.
He also proposed that airline staff could select passengers they suspected had lied about their weight and punish them with a ‘fat fare and a penalty’.
Author of Tomorrow’s Tourism Dr Ian Yeoman supported the proposal, saying: “As the airline industry is fraught with financial difficulties, marginally profitable and has seen exponential growth in the last decade, maybe they should be looking to introduce scales at the check-in.”
Last year group chief economist Tony Webber of Aussie airline Qantas suggested larger passengers and increased fuel bills were pushing up costs. He wrote that “the average adult passenger is carrying a bit more heft.”
“As the obesity crisis worsens…and the price of jet fuel continues to spiral upward, such user-pay charge may be something the airlines can’t ignore for too much longer,” said Webber.
Main image via Thinkstock
