Emotional airport farewells are getting a new time limit in Dunedin, where travelers must now keep their goodbye hugs to three minutes or less.
The newly imposed rule, aimed at preventing traffic congestion in the airport's drop-off zone, is being enforced with signs that read, “Max hug time three minutes.”
Dunedin Airport CEO Dan De Bono explained that the time cap, introduced in September, was part of a redesign to streamline the drop-off area and prevent prolonged goodbyes from causing delays. "It’s a reminder that the area is for quick farewells," De Bono said in a statement to the Associated Press.
While the rule has sparked mixed reactions on social media, with some calling it a violation of basic human rights, others have welcomed the effort to keep traffic flowing smoothly. The airport's “quirky” approach stands in contrast to more punitive measures at other airports, where drop-off areas often come with the threat of fines or wheel clamping.
De Bono reassured passengers that there won’t be strict enforcement. “We do not have hug police,” he joked, but lingering farewells may be redirected to the parking lot, where people can hug for up to 15 minutes free of charge.
Though the new rule may seem restrictive, De Bono added that a 20-second hug is sufficient to release feel-good hormones like oxytocin and serotonin. Anything longer, he noted, can become “really awkward.”
