WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) 鈥 Emotional farewells are a common sight at airports, but travelers leaving the New Zealand city of Dunedin will have to be quick. A new three-minute time limit on goodbye hugs in the airport's drop-off area is intended to prevent lingering cuddles from causing traffic jams.
鈥淢ax hug time three minutes,鈥 warn signs outside the terminal, adding that those seeking 鈥渇onder farewells鈥 should head to the airport鈥檚 parking lot instead.
The cuddle cap was imposed in September to 鈥渒eep things moving smoothly鈥 in the redesigned passenger drop-off area outside the airport, CEO Daniel De Bono told The Associated Press in a written statement. It was the airport鈥檚 way of reminding people that the zone was for 鈥渜uick farewells鈥 only, he said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 caused quite a stir,鈥 De Bono told Radio New Zealand Monday. 鈥淧eople are going 鈥榶ou can鈥檛 tell us how long we can have a hug for.鈥欌
The signs were meant as an alternative to those at other airports warning of wheel clamping or fines for drivers parked in drop-off areas. Some in Britain have imposed fees for all drop-offs 鈥 however brief.
Dunedin's airport 鈥 a modest terminal serving a city of 135,000 people on New Zealand's South Island 鈥 preferred a 鈥渜uirky鈥 approach, De Bono said.
鈥淚t鈥檚 really about enabling the space for others to also have hugs,鈥 he told RNZ. 鈥淭oo many people are spending too much time with their fonder farewells in the drop-off zone.鈥
A 20-second hug is long enough to release the wellbeing-boosting hormones oxytocin and serotonin, De Bono said. Anything longer was 鈥渁 bit awkward.鈥
But passengers need not worry unduly about enforcement.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not going to call the hug police,鈥 he told RNZ.
Visitors might, however, be asked to move their lingering embraces to the parking lot, where they can cuddle free of charge for up to 15 minutes.
