At Dunedin Airport, Hugs Are Now Limited to 3 Minutes

We all know the sadness of dropping our loved ones off at the airport, especially if it's the last time you'll be seeing them for a while. But for travelers at Dunedin Airport, hugs during those heartfelt goodbyes could now be cut short.

At Dunedin International Airport on New Zealand's South Island, a three-minute cap has been placed on goodbye hugs at the drop-off zone in hopes of keeping people moving and avoiding traffic build-up.

Passengers are advised of the new rule via signs put up at drop-off points saying: “Max hug time 3 minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park.”

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, Dunedin Airport CEO Dan De Bono said the airport was trying to “have fun” with the signs, rather than erect strict rules that threaten fines or wheel clamps.

"It is an airport and those drop-off locations are common locations for farewells… airports are hotbeds of emotion,” he said. “There’s no space left for others. It’s about enabling others to have hugs.”

While the signs were intended to make the airport drop-off points less congested, they have caused quite a reaction online, attracting thousands of comments and shares on Facebook.

“What's next, you will get timed to use the bathroom too?” one user wrote. Another added: “Good luck trying to enforce this.”

However, several commenters were quick to point out the benefits of the Dunedin airport hugs policy. “That's a great idea to reduce congestion and keep the flow of traffic coming and going.”

Another said: “School drop-off lines need a similar sign.”

The airport will not be strictly enforcing the hug rule, De Bono said. Instead, staff will politely ask people who are taking too long to move along.

“We’re not here to tell people how long they should hug for," the airport CEO told RNZ. "It’s more the message of please move on and provide space for others.”

This article was originally published on Condé Nast Traveller Middle East