"Pay-Per-Kilo" Samoa Air introduces seats for XL passengers

Samoa Air has launched special seats for passengers who weigh more than 130 kilograms by altering some of its existing seats.

The new seating rows will be extended by 35 centimeters, giving such passengers more leg and stomach space, News.com.au reports.

According to the airline's head Chris Langton, introduction of XL seats will be a help for an overweight person, as even if one is squeezed into the seats with enough space, there is no room for legs.

There is no statement on cost yet, said the report.

Due to genetics and diet, Samoa has heavier people with more than 80 per cent of the population over 15 years old estimated to be overweight, due to which the Samoa Airlines became the first in the world to begin charging passengers by the kilo instead of per seat.

Under this system, passengers pay the "pay-per-kilo" rate by keying in their weight

into the online booking section of the Samoa Air website, the report added.