Obese people should be charged more to travel on planes according to a Norwegian professor. He says a pay-as-you weigh scheme should be introduced by airlines because more kilos equals higher fuel costs.

Professor Bharat Bhatta says that those with a below average weight could also get discounts. He thinks his idea could lead to changes inside aircraft.

He has put forward three proposals:

• Fare according to actual weight: Charging passengers according to how much they and their belongings weigh, fixing a rate for kilograms per passenger
• Base fare minus or plus an extra charge: This option involves charging a fixed base rate, with an additional charge for heavier passengers to cover the extra costs
• Same fare if the passenger has an average weight, but discounted/extra fare for low/excess weight below/above a certain limit.

Dr. Bhatta believes the third option is most suitable for implementation.

"Charging according to weight and space is a universally accepted principle, not only in transportation, but also in other services" he said. "As weight and space are far more important in aviation than other modes of transport, airlines should take this into account when pricing their tickets" he added.