WELLINGTON, New Zealand. Emotional farewells are a familiar scene at airports, but travelers departing from Dunedin Airport in New Zealand must now keep their goodbyes brief. A new policy introduces a three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs in the airport’s drop-off area, aimed at preventing long farewells from causing traffic congestion.
“Max hug time three minutes,” proclaims signs posted outside the terminal. Those wishing for more extended farewells are advised to relocate to the airport’s parking lot.
The hug restriction, implemented in September, was designed to “keep things moving smoothly” in the newly redesigned drop-off area, according to CEO Dan De Bono. He explained to The Associated Press that the initiative serves as a reminder that the zone is intended for quick goodbyes only.
The announcement has sparked polarized reactions on social media, with some accusing the airport of infringing on “basic human rights” by limiting the duration of hugs. However, others have welcomed the new policy.
Dunedin Airport, which serves a city of 135,000 people on New Zealand’s South Island, has adopted a “quirky” approach, as described by De Bono. He stated, “Three minutes is plenty of time to pull up, say farewell to your loved ones, and move on. The time limit is really a nicer way of saying, you know, get on with it.”
De Bono noted that a 20-second hug is sufficient to release well-being-boosting hormones like oxytocin and serotonin, while longer embraces can become “really awkward.”
Passengers need not be overly concerned about enforcement, as De Bono reassured, “We do not have hug police.” However, visitors who wish to extend their emotional farewells may be asked to move to the parking lot, where they can enjoy an additional 15 minutes of cuddle time without restrictions.
Carlo Juancho FuntanillaFrontend Developer, WordPress, Shopify
Contributing Editor
AMA ACLC San Pablo
