According to CNN, Dunedin Airport placed a sign reading "Max hug time 3 minutes - For fonder farewells, please use the car park" in the passenger pick-up and drop-off area to ensure safety and traffic flow at the terminal.
Many people expressed outrage and surprise when they saw a photo of the sign posted on a Facebook account named Julie Ann because Dunedin Airport is known for its comfortable pick-up and drop-off areas.
The post attracted more than 56,000 interactions and more than 1,400 comments, many of which expressed somewhat rude opposition and considered this an "inhumane" act.
However, many people consider this normal, pointing out that some countries such as Denmark and France also apply a similar form to avoid congestion at the airport. Some airports in the UK also apply a service fee for cases requiring more than 10 minutes to say goodbye, with prices ranging from $4 to $7.
Dunedin Airport CEO Daniel De Bonso sat down with Radio New Zealand (RNZ) to answer questions about the new rules.
According to Mr. Daniel De Bonso, in addition to keeping the pick-up and drop-off area safe, limiting the time for goodbye hugs also allows more people to be hugged because people only need to be hugged for about 20 seconds to feel the explosion of "love hormones".
