Sumo Showdown: Japan Airlines Introduces Special Flights for Heavyweight Champions

Japan Airlines (JAL) had to quickly adjust their plans due to an unexpected issue with excess weight. However, this weight did not come from the baggage; it came from a unique group of passengers - sumo wrestlers. JAL discovered that two of their aircraft were in danger of surpassing their weight limits while transporting these wrestlers to Amami Oshima, a southern island, for a sports festival.

On October 12, two sets of athletes, totaling 27 individuals, were scheduled to depart from different airports. One group was set to depart from Haneda Airport (HND) in Tokyo, while the other group was set to depart from Itami Airport (ITM) in Osaka, which is a relatively smaller airport primarily serving domestic flights. CNN was informed by an airline representative that the sumo wrestlers, weighing an average of 120 kilograms (264 pounds) each, posed concerns regarding the fuel capacity of the smaller aircraft that operates domestic flights within Japan. The average weight of regular passengers is 70 kilograms (154 pounds).

Due to the challenging nature of accommodating larger aircrafts at the Amami regional airport (ASJ), the leading airline opted to relocate 14 of the wrestlers to depart from Haneda airport, which is in closer proximity to the bustling Tokyo metropolis.

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However, the return journey from the sumo festival was still quite cramped. According to CNN affiliate TV Asahi, three high school sumo wrestlers, with weights of 140, 130, and 110 kilograms (308, 268, and 242 pounds) respectively, shared seats beside each other during their flight back to Haneda from Fukuoka on October 15.

One student from Gunma prefecture expressed, "The middle seat was undoubtedly the most challenging." The remark was made by a representative of the Gunma wrestlers during a TV Asahi report. Initially intended as a joke regarding potential weight concerns, it unexpectedly turned into an actual problem. Despite feeling slightly fatigued, we received tremendous support." Sumo wrestling, a traditional Japanese sport, does not impose any weight restrictions or classes; however, it has historically been dominated by larger athletes.

Young wrestlers who have a passion for the sport often start their training as early as five years old. They undergo rigorous training in specialized sumo stables, known as beya, where they reside, train, and dine together almost every day.

While it may not be a common practice for travelers in Japan, many regulatory authorities in the aviation industry require passengers to be weighed before boarding a flight. This is done to collect valuable data for governmental purposes.

Earlier this year, Korean Air conducted safety checks by measuring the weight of both passengers and their luggage. Air New Zealand also implemented a comparable program for certain customers traveling on its international routes, particularly the lengthy journey between Auckland and New York.