Thai Airways Instituting Waistline Limit for Passengers in Business Class

by Adam

Well, if your wasteline measures more than 56 inches you can forget about sitting in business class on Thai Airways’ B787-9 aircraft. The airline says it’s instituting the limit due to seatbelts on the aircraft that cannot be extended. The belts will prevent passengers from flying with children on their laps as well. The airline blames the restriction on the US FAA:

This meant that passengers with a waistline of over 56 inches (142.24cms) could not fasten these new seatbelt airbags, which meet US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety standards, Flt Lt Prathana Pattanasiri, vice president of THAI’s aviation safety, security and standards department said.

Back in November, Helsinki based oneworld carrier Finnair announced that they would begin weighing passengers and their bags prior to boarding. The airline said the change was meant to provide more accurate data for improving the balance and operation of their flights.  Prior, Finnair used estimated average passenger and carry-on luggage weight data from a 2009 survey by the European Avian Safety Association. The airline wants more current data as they feel that measurements for both have likely changed.

The change for Finnair was voluntary though! Scales were placed next to the gates at Helsinki Airport (HEL) and the airline had hopes that 100-150 passengers (and their bags) per flight would offer to get on the scale. All data will remain confidential.

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