Many airports are focusing on the wellbeing of their passengers, particularly as travel rapidly returns post-pandemic, resulting in serious delays and overcrowding.
Berlin Airport
According to taipeitimes.com, Berlin Brandenburg Airport has introduced three well-natured dogs and two human handlers to act as on-the-ground stress-relief ambassadors to ensure passengers' wellness as the airport battles challenges with delays.
Passengers were reporting long check-in lines and delays in baggage retrieval due to the airport's staff shortages. The airport recently released a statement recommending that passengers allow at least two-and-a-half hours to reach their flights but received backlash from passengers. As part of an innovative solution, it dispatched its stress-relief ambassadors to win over passengers despite their frustrations.
The dogs patrol the terminals and offer comfort, or a little entertainment, to agitated passengers.
Changi International Airport
Changi International Airport is ranked the best in the world. It is constantly evolving its facilities to provide passengers with a relaxing journey. The airport, with its indoor water features, green spaces, butterfly garden and gyms, most recently introduced free bicycle tours for layover passengers with more than five-and-a-half hours to spare.
Passengers can now use bicycles to explore nearby attractions like Bedok Jetty, the East Coast Lagoon Hawker Centre, and the trendy Siglap neighbourhood. They can also relax in a return area with pay-per-use showers, an outdoor café, and a bar before their next flight.
XpresSpa – US, UAE, Turkey and the Netherlands
XpresSpa offers passengers a variety of wellness and spa services such as massages, manicures, pedicures and other specialised treatments for mental and physical wellness.
There are branches at several airports in the US, including Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Texas, and John F. Kennedy International Airport.
In the UAE, there are branches at Abu Dhabi and Dubai international airports, while in Europe there is an XpresSpa at Istanbul Grand Airport, and in the Netherlands there is a branch at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport.
Image: Berlin Stress Relief Ambassador
