An airport sick of cars clogging its drop-off zone imposed a 3-minute cap on hugs

• Dunedin Airport has limited farewell hugs to three minutes at its dropoff zone.
• The aim is to keep traffic moving at New Zealand’s fifth-busiest airport.
• Dan De Bono, Dunedin Airport’s chief executive, said the new rule had caused some controversy.

An airport in New Zealand has caused a stir over drop-offs after imposing a three-minute curb on farewell hugs.

Dunedin Airport in New Zealand’s South Island erected a sign reading: “Max hug time three minutes. For fonder farewells please use the car park.”

The rule applies only to the drop-off zone. Parking is free for the first 15 minutes and $1.80 for half an hour.

Dunedin airport CEO Dan de Bono told Radio New Zealand that his team was having “a bit of fun” with the restriction, which he said was more about “enabling others to also have hugs.”

De Bono added that some travelers had previously used the zone to engage in last-minute amorous acts. “Our staff have seen some interesting things over the years,” he said.

Critics of the rule on social media say it is inhumane and unnecessary. De Bono said the notice was to politely ask passengers to move on and provide space for others rather than police public displays of affection.

He said people breaking the rule will not face serious consequences and will, at most, be asked to move along by airport staff.

According to its 2023 annual report, Dunedin Airport was the fifth-busiest airport in New Zealand, with 920,349 passengers that year.

Parking charges can generate a significant amount of income for airports.

“Parking is a key revenue source for airports worldwide,” Kim Crafton, director of marketing and air service development at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in South Carolina told The Wall Street Journal in May. Last year, parking revenue at Columbia was 20% higher than airline revenue, the publication said.

According to an analysis of corporate filings by The Times, the UK’s four largest airports — Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, and Stansted — took nearly $2.6 million a day in car parking charges from travelers last year.

Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson airport — consistently the world’s busiest airport — requires a $3 hourly fee for the first two hours of short-stay parking. Meanwhile, Dubai International Airport charges around $6.80 for one hour of economy parking.

A recent analysis by British automotive services company RAC found that, in the UK, just three of the top 20 airports retain free drop-off zones.

“Our research also clearly shows that a major reason for driving and dropping off is the practical challenges of traveling with heavy and bulky luggage, especially if you have elderly or very young people in tow,” said RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis.