Falconpowers – In a new initiative, Istanbul Airport has employed five dogs to assist travelers in overcoming stress and fatigue. The dogs, accompanied by their handlers, roam inside the passenger lounges of the large airport to provide a stress-free travel experience for anxious passengers.
These dogs “treat” stress by giving hugs, kisses, and playing with the travelers. Associated Press had the opportunity to meet Cuki and Alita, two of the dogs participating in the airport’s new experimental project aimed at reducing stress and anxiety among travelers.
All the dogs in this program are professionally trained and conditioned for human comfort. The “canine therapy team” has been in service since late February after months of preparation and intensive training to learn how to remove sensitivity to distracting stimuli, such as sounds and people.
Kadir Demirtaş, the Director of Customer Experience at Istanbul Airport, stated, “We need to ensure that they are safe and 100% adapted to all environments.”
