Getting on a plane can be one of the most stressful things many people can do, and to help alleviate some of this anxiety for travellers, Belfast Airport is now offering ‘mindfulness’ sessions available prior to take off and after landing. In conjunction with Northern Ireland’s largest mental health charity, Niamh, the classes aim to provide some much-needed relaxation for flyers, and they hope that others might benefit from this initiative too…
Belfast Airport at Forefront of Passenger Mental Health Provision
Travelling at any time can be stressful, whether it’s the actual process or all the organisation and preparation that’s required, such as finding affordable parking at Belfast Airport. This new move by Belfast Airport is not only trying to take some of that stress out of flying for those that are scared or worried about getting on a plane, but also for other airport users and staff. Chief Executive Brian Ambrose states,
“We believe it’s the first time such sessions have been held in an airport and hope it will not only reduce stress levels of those travelling to and from the airport, but also allow time for staff and other airport users to reflect upon their own mental health.”
“Around 2.7 million passengers come through Belfast Airport each year and if through this relationship we can help just one person, then the partnership will have been worth it.”
Will Other Airports Follow Suit?
It’s fair to assume that the larger the airport, the great the potential for stress, so is it possible that we might see similar programmes on offer in larger terminals in the future. As well as the stress of flying, many passengers also suffer from a build-up of tension when organising all the logistical details associated with international and domestic plane travel. Parking at Belfast Airport and other transport hubs might well be a stressful thing to organise, but there are now much easier and convenient options available when sorting out your airport parking and finding suitable facilities. A handy Belfast Airport parking discount can be found when booking your parking at Belfast Airport using the Parking at Airports tool. This not only gets you secure parking close to the terminal but also an additional 12% discount on top of savings of up to 72% off standard prices.
It remains to be seen whether there will be any other UK airports that follow in the footsteps of Belfast Airport, but if this initiative proves successful then there’s a chance that air travel and airports in general might well become a lot less stressful for a lot more people in the future.