The airport in Dunedin, a city in the South Island of New Zealand, has implemented a three-minute limit on hugs in the passenger drop-off area, as parts of a comprehensive initiative aimed at enhancing safety and ensuring the smooth movement of traffic within its drop-off area.
A newly-placed sign in Dunedin Airport‘s drop-off area now informs travelers: “Maximum hug duration is 3 minutes. For more heartfelt farewells, please utilize the parking lot.”
The sign is intended to serve as an alternative to those found at various airports that caution drivers about wheel clamping or penalties for parking in drop-off zones.
Daniel De Bono, the airport’s Chief Executive, commented on this matter during an interview with local radio station. He referred to airports as “hotbeds of emotion” and cited research indicating that a 20-second hug is sufficient to trigger a surge of the “love hormone” oxytocin. He argued that facilitating quicker movement of passengers allows more individuals to experience more hugs.
There will not be a designated team of hug enforcement officers overseeing the regulation; however, staff members may courteously request individuals who linger to proceed to the parking area, De Bono added.
Opponents of the new policy have expressed to the airport that it is inappropriate to impose restrictions on the duration of hugs, labeling the regulation as “inhumane.”
Conversely, advocates have commended the airport for its welcoming stance, particularly as there is a free drop-off zone at Dunedin airport, while many airports globally are implementing drop-off charges.
