Samoa Air – the brunt of a fair few jokes over the past year as it introduced a fare system based on a passenger's weight – is claiming the move was so successful it is upgrading its fleet. Chief executive Chris Langton said the 1.34 tala (NZD$0.69) per kilogram charge had proved popular as it meant cheaper fares for most passengers. The airline is now in the process of adding a new aircraft to its fleet, which would be configured to ensure larger passengers who pay high fares are given more space.
This is something that many other low cost airlines should watch for. Could there be in all this a potential future bonanza for MRO shops, airlines and chair makers alike? It is worth keeping Samoa Air in mind to see how this story continues to play out.