The airline, which started in 2012, asks passengers to declare their personal weight during booking, which is then charged per kilogram (2.2 lb) at a rate dependent on flight length.
The customers are also weighed at the check-in counter.
The airline was initially facing criticism for charging customers based on their weight, but now, Samoa Air said it is looking after its larger customers.
Each passenger pays by their weight, so a 150 kg person flying one-way internationally to American Samoa, would be charged $154.50 U.S. dollars. However they can now get a seat that suits their size.
The airline’s new service has extended rows by 30-35 centimetres (12-14 inches) giving the larger passengers more room and according to the CEO of Samoa Airline; Chris Langton, two fairly large people can fit in there and it will be comfortable for both.
“We’ve actually taken out a complete row of seats and replaced it so there is much more leg room for the passenger, there’s no armrest,”
According to Samoa Air’s latest schedule, the airline charges up to WS$1.32 ($0.57 USD) per kg for domestic flights and WS$2.40 ($1.03 USD) per kg for its only international flight to American Samoa, around 250 miles (402 km).
The Pacific Islands contain some of the world’s most prevalent countries for obesity, many ranking in the top 10, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Samoa is ranked number four, with 59.6 per cent of the population considered obese, said the most recent 2008 WHO report.
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