More than 30 per cent of travellers in the UAE believe that airlines in the region should charge overweight passengers more because of their size.
A poll carried out by Emirates 24|7 found that 32 per cent of people believe airlines should charge a "fat tax."
However, the majority (63 per cent) voted against this, saying such a move will amount to unfair discrimination.
Only 5 per cent of respondents were unsure whether airlines should or should not put a "fat-tax" on overweight people.
“I weigh 72 kilograms and stand 6 feet tall. I work hard to maintain this weight. Why should I pay the same amount as another passenger with a 90 kilogram weight?” said one respondent.
Those for it say that apart from the discomfort for large passengers and those around them, there are safety implications to be considered by having too much weight on the flight.
Some respondents to the poll said it was airlines' responsibility to make seats for all shapes and sizes of passengers while others suggested that the charge should be calculated on the weight of the passenger plus their luggage.
“This is not something Gulf Air would consider,” a spokesperson for Gulf Air told this website some time back. However, most airlines did not comment considering the fact that the so-called "fat tax" is a very sensitive issue and airlines do not want to alienate heavier passengers.
Obesity is a growing concern in the UAE. As per the World Health Organisation (WHO) standards, more than 50 per cent of the children in the country are considered obese, according to a recent media report. Health experts say that unless action is taken to improve the public’s health, the UAE is facing a chronic disease epidemic in the future. In a recent obesity conference in Abu Dhabi it was revealed that 71 per cent of the Emirati adult population is obese, while, according to WHO forecasts, the number of obese Emirati women is set to rise to 81 per cent by 2015.
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