New Zealand airport trying to control the disruptive presence of hugs
Efficiency at airports is always a big deal. Trying to get passengers through every aspect of checking in and boarding a flight has become an incredibly complicated management task. Dunedin Airport in New Zealand recently made waves online thanks to their brand new hugging policy. Specifically, hugs from friends or family dropping off travelers must be limited to three minutes or less.
Located in Momona on New Zealand's south island, Dunedin is a smaller airport that services the largely rural region. It's closet major center is Dunedin, the second largest city on the island with a population of just under 140,000 people. The airport gives travelers access to the city as well as the Pacific Ocean, nearby Lake Mahinerangi, and numerous ecotourism opportunities.
Recently, Dunedin Airport officials put up a new new sign in their drop-off area stating that goodbye hugs must be limited to three minutes. Not surprisingly, the preference would be even less than that. The goal is to keep traffic moving through the airport by minimizing extended personal interactions in an area that cannot afford delays. There is limited space and a lot of traffic moving through it.
As one would expect, the move has generated a wide range of responses online. Some people are outraged at having their time with their loved ones limited like that. Others have found either the humor or the practicality in the move. But it's not so absurd an idea as many airport drop-off areas have time limits. That being said, none have specifically targeted the act of hugging before.
If travelers do feel like spending a bit more time with their friends and family before they leave, airport authorities have pointed out that they have parking areas away from the drop-off. They just want to keep the drop-off area as clear as possible.