The airline's CEO says the XL class is to accommodate larger passengers who feel squeezed while up in the air.
Samoa Air, which earlier this year became the world's first airline to charge passengers according to what they weigh, is introducing a new "XL class" for obese passengers.
Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton told Australia News Network’s Pacific Beat radio program the company has modified its aircraft to accommodate passengers who weigh more than 130 kilograms, or about 285 pounds. The modifications include a special extra-wide row and a ramp for easier access.
"Quite often the access is difficult, and even the space between the seats is enough that even when you've squeezed into the seats there's no room for your legs," Langton told Pacific Beat.
"We don't have a large fleet of airplanes, but we wanted to do something that recognizes that we are thinking about this."
Earlier this year Samoa Air introduced a "pay as you weigh" booking system that calculates the cost of a passenger's ticket according to his or her body weight plus baggage.
A study published in April by a Norwegian economist recommended that airlines charge extra for obese flyers and give discounts for those who weigh less than average.
Langton told Pacific Beat he expects more airlines to make changes to accommodate larger passengers.
"That's where the XL has come in — we do it with shirts and clothing and other things where we have different standard sizes," he said.
Obesity is a major problem in Samoa and the Pacific island nations, which consistently make the list of the world's "fattest" countries.
Samoa Air's fleet consists of smaller propeller Britten Norman and Cessna aircrafts. The airline started flying in 2012 among the islands of Samoa and has since expanded to connect a number of Pacific island nations.
 |
| samoaair.ws. Samoa Air is intrducing a special 'XL class' for overweight pasengers. |
Samoa Air CEO Chris Langton told Australia News Network’s Pacific Beat radio program the company has modified its aircraft to accommodate passengers who weigh more than 130 kilograms, or about 285 pounds. The modifications include a special extra-wide row and a ramp for easier access.
"Quite often the access is difficult, and even the space between the seats is enough that even when you've squeezed into the seats there's no room for your legs," Langton told Pacific Beat.
"We don't have a large fleet of airplanes, but we wanted to do something that recognizes that we are thinking about this."
Earlier this year Samoa Air introduced a "pay as you weigh" booking system that calculates the cost of a passenger's ticket according to his or her body weight plus baggage.
A study published in April by a Norwegian economist recommended that airlines charge extra for obese flyers and give discounts for those who weigh less than average.
Langton told Pacific Beat he expects more airlines to make changes to accommodate larger passengers.
"That's where the XL has come in — we do it with shirts and clothing and other things where we have different standard sizes," he said.
Obesity is a major problem in Samoa and the Pacific island nations, which consistently make the list of the world's "fattest" countries.
Samoa Air's fleet consists of smaller propeller Britten Norman and Cessna aircrafts. The airline started flying in 2012 among the islands of Samoa and has since expanded to connect a number of Pacific island nations.
