Sydney, Dec 11: A majority of Australians want that obese airline passengers should pay for two seats, according to a new survey.

The survey, conducted by travel company totaltravel.com, found that 63 per cent of the respondents voted that obese travellers should pay for two seats when travelling on a plane.

In the survey, 2810 people were asked whether ‘excessively overweight’ people should be forced to pay for two seats when travelling by plane.

The results revealed that almost two-thirds of the total questioned believed that obese people should be charged for an additional seat, answering that they did not want to share the seat they had paid for.

Thirty five per cent were more sympathetic, voting that excessively overweight people should not be penalised for their size.

Totaltravel.com global marketing manager Paul Fisher said the issue was a sensitive one as it raises a lot of ethical and legal dilemmas.

"This is a sensitive issue for all involved and forcing obese people to pay for two tickets raises a lot of ethical and legal dilemmas, " the Sydney Morning Herald quoted Fisher, as saying.

"Airlines should be working out a solution to the problem, whether it is discounted second seats or specially-designed chairs for larger people,” Fisher added. (ANI)