in Lithuanian airports a new practice – short therapy sessions with dogs for passengers – was tested for the first time. Vilnius airport passengers waiting for their flights in the departure area could experience the effects of professionally trained therapeutic animals. Scientific research has proven that canine therapy helps to relax, calms and puts you in a positive mood.
"Admitting specialists with therapy dogs to Vilnius airport arose from observing the good practice of foreign countries. Specially trained dogs at airports help relax passengers who are anxious before a flight. In Italy, similar projects have recently been successfully implemented at the Milan airport, as well as in Krakow, so we decided to carry out a pilot project. Specialists of the Professional Canine Therapy Service of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences offered to come as guests with their pets. The animals received a lot of attention and warm words - they perfectly fulfilled their mission by giving passengers a great experience", said Beatričė Skardžė, Head of Communication and Sustainability Projects of Lithuanian Airports.
To the new initiative Vilnius airport Doberman dog Argas and his friend Loja - four-legged animals who passed special exams - were actively involved. Miglė Zuokaitė, an employee of the professional canitherapy service of the Lithuanian University of Health Sciences (LSMU), and Mindaugas Sėjūnas, a professional canitherapy assistant at the LSMU, helped the pets to communicate with the passengers.
"Scientific studies show that during canine therapy, oxytocin is released in the human body - one of the hormones of happiness. As a result, the mood improves and the tension subsides. That was the effect of Argo and Loja at Vilnius airport. Their visit first lifted the spirits of the staff, and then the smiles on the faces of the passengers started to increase as well. Many people extended their hands, talked, wanted to take pictures with the dogs. Many travelers have admitted that they are hearing about canine therapy for the first time, and until now they thought that dogs can only be used at airports to check passengers and baggage", M. Sėjūnas shared his impressions.
Lithuanian airports is currently only testing the possibilities of cooperating with canine therapy specialists and introducing therapy dog visits at the country's airports. According to B. Skardže, improving the passenger experience is part of the company's overall strategy, and the sustainability strategy opens up opportunities to improve the emotional experience of passengers in unexpected and interesting ways.
Anxiety or stress before a flight, sometimes turning into serious fear, is a phenomenon known to scientists for a long time. For almost 40 years, researchers have been trying to find out why some people's state changes and their well-being worsens before flying in an aircraft. Answers are also being sought to help passengers manage negative feelings and emotions. It was established that more than a third of people may feel heightened anxiety before a trip, and a few percent - 2-5 percent. - individuals experience a fear that is classified as a clinical phobia.
After noticing that interacting with dogs reduces the anxiety of passengers, researchers began to apply the practice of canine therapy more and more often in airports as well. Passengers around the world have recognized the positive effects of therapy on their emotional state - playing with and petting a dog relaxes, gets rid of negative thoughts, improves mood, and lowers stress levels. It is not for nothing that canine therapy is also used in other areas, for example, to control anxiety during a visit to the dentist's office, before exams and in other cases.
