Istanbul, one of the largest airports in the world launches pet therapy: 5 dogs for stressed passengers

It has been known for a while that it was a “pet friendly” airport. Now Istanbul airport – the one inaugurated in 2018 to replace the old Atatürk and where 250 million passengers have already passed through since its opening – takes a step further. And launches the “Therapy Dog Project”, the first of its kind in Turkey and one of the first in Europe. In fact, some experiments had been seen a few years ago, for example in Milan-Malpensa and just last year in Berlin. The aim is to allow transit passengers to face and overcome travel stress and anxieties related to the fear of flying thanks to the support of their four-legged friends. All the dogs involved in the pilot program, which takes place in the international departures area and during daytime hours (in particular between 10am and 4pm, the busiest), are certified therapy dogs and professionally trained to comfort passengers.

“Being one of the largest transport hubs in the world, our airport hosts millions of travelers from many countries – explained Abdülkadir Demirta?, customer experience manager of iGA Istanbul Airport, the company that built and manages the airport – for this reason This is why we constantly improve our services for different needs and situations with passenger satisfaction at the centre. Traveling can be a stressful experience, which is why we are keen to ensure a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere at our airport. Many scientific studies have demonstrated the positive effects of human-animal interaction on blood pressure, stress and anxiety levels. By acting in light of this research we aim to offer a joyful and frustration-free travel experience at our airport with therapy dogs. In this way, We aim to ensure that our guests leave our airport happy and with pleasant memories.” The coordination of the project, which in the initial phase relies on five dogs, as well as the training and care of the animals, is carried out by a team led by Volkan Arslan, the veterinarian of iGA Istanbul Airport.

The new airport, it was said, pays particular attention to pets and more. In fact, it has a total of four rooms for pets: one in the check-in area on the level of departing passengers, two additional rooms for pets after passport control and one on the arrivals level. All “pet rooms” are naturally equipped with products such as dog and cat food, litter trays, scratching posts and various other accessories to satisfy the primary needs of passengers’ furry traveling companions.

The Therapy Dog Team led by Kuki, a lagotto from Romagna, entered into service at the end of February after months of preparation and intensive training, focused in particular on desensitizing dogs to distracting stimuli, such as sounds and people. “We need to ensure that they are 100% safe and suitable for all environments,” added Demirtas at theAp. The first feedback, all positive, seems to have convinced the managers to enrich the team and rapidly expand operations to other areas of the terminal.