Originally Posted by
IAMORGAN
On a slightly related note, I believe takeoff performance data is based on assumed weight of customers and their luggage. I’ve often idly wondered whether flights to / from certain destinations are likely to have a high number of customers over the assumed weight.
IIRC there were crashes in the past that had underestimation of weight as a secondary (if not main) factor. However I believe (correct if wrong) that large modern aircraft have means to calculate their own approximate weight. As for passengers' average weight for calculation purposes in smaller aircraft, they have increased with time to cover for the higher proportion of heavier luggage and persons, as well as taking regional differences in account.