To optimize transporting of a weft thread in a weaving machine.

The following steps are performed to optimize transporting of the weft thread (4) through a shuttle path of an air-jet weaving machine (1) having at least one nozzle (5, 6) fed with a flowing transportation medium. A step wherein the portion, changeable along the weft thread (4), of the natural thread charges distributed irregularly on the weft thread (4) is contactlessly detected by means of an electrode device (15), and the changing total charge on the electrode device (15) is determined, a step wherein the periodic change in the total charge is evaluated for determining the axial velocity of the weft thread (4), and a step wherein at least one nozzle (5, 6) of the weaving machine (1) is controlled by depending on the axial velocity of the weft thread (4).