STOCKHOLM, November 2 (RIA Novosti) - Specialists at SAS Scandinavian Airlines say the excessive weight of passengers threatens flight safety, Denmark's Jyllands Posten daily reported on Friday.
The leading air carrier of Denmark, Norway and Sweden carried out selective weighing of passengers, and found that the average passenger exceeded estimates used by the airline by three kilograms (6.6 lbs), bringing the total plane weight to one metric ton (2,200 lbs) over the limit. Overloaded planes require extra fuel and a longer runway for to ensure safety, the experts said.
SAS says European flight safety requirements set ten years ago, putting the average weight of a male passenger at 88 kg (194 lbs) and 70 kg (154.3 lbs) for females, are outdated.
The airline plans to selectively weigh 20,000 of its passengers in 2008.
