United Kingdom
United States
Asia Pacific
Air carriers looking at ‘weighty’ issues
Overweight American airline passengers are no threat to safety but obesity is becoming a problem for cost-conscious carriers.
“A little extra weight means a little extra cost for the airline,” said 6News.WLNS.com.
With Americans steadily getting heavier, airlines have to carry more weight. That’s no problem for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which factors it into its calculations.
But airlines are spending hundreds of millions of dollars in fuel costs to carry the added bulk.
“The average weight of all Americans has gone up by about 10 pounds over the past decade, so the cost of fuel has gone up,” said Dr. Andrew Dannenberg with the Centers for Disease Control. He said the problem is not so much large people flying as it is the average weight of all fliers that has increased.
Some airlines such as Southwest are now requiring what they call “customers of size” to pay for two seats instead of one.
Report by David Wilkening
David
Kittipong Prapattong’s Plan for Thailand’s Tourism Growth: Taxes, Visas, and Campaigns
James Jin: Didatravel’s Journey from China to Global Reach and the Impact of AI on Travel
Darien Schaefer on Pensacola’s Evolution: From Small Town to Global Destination
Florida Tourism’s Next Frontier: Dana Young on Expanding Beyond the Classics
Patrick Harrison on Tampa Bay Tourism’s Resilience and Marketing Strategy
Bubba O’Keefe on Clarksdale’s Vibrant Music Scene
Commemorating Elvis and Embracing Tupelo’s Culture with Jennie Bradford Curlee
Craig Ray and the Expansion of the Blues Trail
Presenting Mississippi’s Cultural Trails with Katie Coats
Robert Terrell: A Journey Through BB King’s Influence
Rochelle Hicks: Celebrating Mississippi’s Musical Legacy
Exploring Jacksonville with Katie Mitura: The Flip Side of Florida
Dozens fall ill in P&O Cruises ship outbreak
Turkish Airlines flight in emergency landing after pilot dies
Boy falls to death on cruise ship
Unexpected wave rocks cruise ship
Woman dies after going overboard in English Channel