Weighed down by sumo wrestlers, JAL lays on extra plane
Japan Airlines had to lay on an extra plane to solve a weighty problem.
The airline was flying dozens of sumo wrestlers to a competition.
The flights carrying the wrestlers would have been overweight, the airline said.
A total of 27 sumos were booked on the flights but their average weight was around 120kg, nearly double the average passenger.
It laid on an extra plane to take 14 of them.
They were travelling from Osaka to Amami Oshima, a small island in the south of Japan.
The runway there was not able to take a larger aircraft, so JAL organised an extra plane.
“It is extremely unusual for us to operate special flights due to weight restrictions on this aircraft,” a JAL spokesperson said.
“We found there were many reservations for sumo wrestlers and when we checked their weight we found that the flight might be overweight.”
Amami Oshima is well-known for its sumo wrestling heritage.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Air Mauritius reduces frequencies to Europe and Asia for the holiday season
Airbnb eyes a loyalty program but details remain under wraps