Packing, getting to the airport, navigating check-in counters, passing through security, making flight connections – all these parts of travel can sometimes produce a mountain of anxiety, but a new initiative at Vancouver International Airport is hoping to ease some of this stress.
Keeping calm at the airport/Shutterstock
The Fly Calm initiative, launched in partnership with the Canadian Mental Health Association on World Mental Health Day, provides travellers with tips and resources to ease their travel.
“We hear anecdotally that the travel experience can be stressful and obviously as we’re growing as an airport, we’re seeing more and more people,” Jenny Duncan, director of marketing and communications for YVR, told the Richmond News.
“We just really want to help travellers have the best experience possible.”
Travellers can visit the Fly Calm website which includes reminders to check in personally, breathing exercises, easy ways to stretch and move while in an airport or in flight and even an “adult colouring book” with intricate pictures that allows the mind to focus on a simple task.
“We’re saying (the colouring book) is for anyone who wants to de-stress a little bit,” Duncan said.
In celebration of the launch of Fly Calm, YVR set up a giant version of the first page of its new colouring book. Photo: YVR/Twitter
Travellers can visit the website anytime or pick up a colouring book at an airport information kiosk before heading through security. Duncan said the initiative will continue to develop with more resources being made available in the future.
Duncan added the airport also always recommends travellers take the time to prepare for a trip by “being on time, planning your route (and) knowing where you’re going.”
