← Autodidact Archive · Original Dissent · Faust
Thread ID: 15566 | Posts: 10 | Started: 2004-11-06
2004-11-06 04:54 | User Profile
Larger passengers hit airline profits
The US airline industry is facing a new threat to its profits - heavier passengers, a report has found.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the average US adult put on ten pounds (4.5 kgs) of weight during the 1990s.
Shifting the extra bulk cost airlines an additional $275m (ã149m; 214m euros) in fuel costs in 2000, the report says.
Earnings at airlines have already been under pressure amid waning demand and a record surge in the price of crude oil.
Market squeeze
In the US, a number of carriers have gone bust while others are struggling to survive in an ever more competitive market place.
While it is relatively easy to check the weight of a traveller's luggage and charge those that bust limits, it is much harder to regulate a person's waistline.
Hand luggage is one thing; love handles, it seems, are another.
Some firms have toyed with the idea of charging obese travellers for two seats, but it is not a practice that has taken off industry-wide.
Last year, the Federal Aviation Administration increased by ten pounds the average passenger weight they use to calculate aircraft loads.
Since then crude oil prices have hit record levels, with many firms responding by raising the fuel surcharge they add to ticket prices.
The rising level of obesity in the US and in Europe has prompted government health campaigns and harsh criticism of a number of food firms.
Restaurant chain McDonald's has taken the brunt of the attack and has in recent months reworked its menu to include healthier options. The move has helped lift profits.
The prediction by experts, however, is that humans are set to become bigger, putting increasing pressure on airline profit.
[url]http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/3984973.stm[/url]
2004-11-10 01:47 | User Profile
Faust, this is a very interesting article. However, I must say that it is such a terrible thing to see so many people let themselves go. Maybe we should start a special section on OD dedicated to this important subject. We might call it Obesity-Watch or something to that effect.
2004-11-10 03:02 | User Profile
The airliners are sooooooooooo stupid (more than me) one way to reduce the weight of passenger would be to kick out all the MacDonald's, King Burgers, Taco Bells, Donut Shops and so on that are at all airports.
Multiply 1.5 lbs per passanger times 250 and the weight of the plane would go down by 375 lbs.
2005-09-16 18:16 | User Profile
It is time to revisit this very important subject. Gentlemen please post your replies.
2005-09-16 19:07 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Ponce]The airliners are sooooooooooo stupid (more than me) one way to reduce the weight of passenger would be to kick out all the MacDonald's, King Burgers, Taco Bells, Donut Shops and so on that are at all airports.
Multiply 1.5 lbs per passanger times 250 and the weight of the plane would go down by 375 lbs.[/QUOTE]
Ponce: Welcome back. Can't speak for others but[B][I] I[/B][/I] missed you!
2005-09-16 19:09 | User Profile
[QUOTE=OPERA96]Ponce: Welcome back. Can't speak for others but I missed you![/QUOTE] Opera96, Sorry to disappoint you, but that Ponce post is 10 months old.
2005-09-16 19:16 | User Profile
The US government, the plane manufacturers and of course the airlines themselves are the ones responsible for declining business, profits, bankruptcies, etc, not "fat people". It's just the industry trying to blame their problems on the actual customers!
2005-09-16 19:40 | User Profile
It seems very fair for airlines to charge people by weight, if a passenger's weight really makes a significant difference.
2005-09-22 05:22 | User Profile
[QUOTE=Quantrill]Opera96, Sorry to disappoint you, but that Ponce post is 10 months old.[/QUOTE] Yeah, I realized that after I'd already posted the message.
2005-09-22 14:12 | User Profile
[QUOTE=xmetalhead]The US government, the plane manufacturers and of course the airlines themselves are the ones responsible for declining business, profits, bankruptcies, etc, not "fat people". It's just the industry trying to blame their problems on the actual customers![/QUOTE] I agree with you whole heartedly. The baggage weight variance, for starters, between and 20 pound bag up to the 66 pound limit, puts this fat passenger ploy to the lie.
AE