A Japanese airline is asking passengers to visit the lavatory before boarding in an attempt to reduce carbon emissions.

All Nippon Airways (ANA) says empty bladders mean lighter passengers, which means lighter aircraft and lower fuel use. The airline will position staff near the boarding gates in terminals to ask passengers waiting for their flight to relieve themselves before boarding the aircraft.

It hopes that the weight saved will lead to a five-tonne reduction in carbon emissions over the course of a month. ANA started the policy on 1 October as a one month trial but says it may be expanded if successful. Flying is the fastest-growing source of carbon dioxide emissions, accounting for more than 600 million tons of the greenhouse gas per year.

I have to assume that this only applies to short haul flights...


Inevitably there were queueing issues...

The original was here