EASA review of standard passenger weights 2022

EASA (European Union Aviation Safety Agency) just recently released their 2022 report on the review of standard passenger weights. The authority issues and evaluates safety regulations within civil aviation in Europe and periodically conducts research, where the average weight of passengers and their baggage is important. Already in 2008, EASA collected the standard weight of passengers in a study. The goal was to determine the passenger weight, the weight of carry-on baggage and that of checked baggage on domestic, international, and intercontinental flights, in order to update the set of standard masses for the purpose of aircraft mass and balance. The update now will also help assessing if a review of the applicable EU legislation is needed.

Since fluctuations in the values were to be expected, EASA in 2021 commissioned Lufthansa Consulting to conduct a field survey to obtain up-to-date data. Over a period of 10 months, data was collected at six European airports: ATH (Athens, Eleftherios Venizelos, Greece), BRU (Brussels, Belgium), CPH (Copenhagen-Kastrup, Denmark), MXP (Milan Malpensa, Italy), MUC (Munich, Franz Josef Strauß, Germany) and SOF (Sofia, Bulgaria).  A total of 4,164 passengers were surveyed, as well as their baggage and 1,998,070 pieces of checked baggage. In order to collect as accurate data as possible, the survey was conducted in the winter season and the summer season. In its PMO role, Lufthansa Consulting contracted I&O Research who were responsible for the in-person fieldwork activity. The subsequent statistical analysis was performed by SEO Amsterdam Economics.

According to the survey’s findings there was little difference in passenger weight from 2008/09. An average male passenger in 2022 weighs 82.5kg and a female passenger 67.5kg. Furthermore, it has been found that male passengers have more carry-on luggage. If we compare the weight of checked baggage from the previous study with today’s results of averaged 16kg, it is clear that the weight of checked baggage decreased by 0,8kg. It was also observed that business class passengers carry more baggage on long-haul flights than other passengers.

> To the EASA report