Hug Rug makes long-overdue landing in Winnipeg airport’s arrivals area
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.99/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19.95 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 25/03/2022 (1384 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
It’s one of the best things about travelling — the hug from a loved one that says without words how much you’ve missed each other.
After 736 days in storage, the Hug Rug is back at Winnipeg Richardson International Airport, reassuming its place at the foot of the stairs and escalator to welcome arrivals.
Debbie MacPhee was the first arrival to fling her arms around a loved one atop the rug. The Halifax woman crouched to embrace her granddaughter, then wrapped her arms around her daughter.
“We booked the trip two years ago, and it was cancelled on us. It’s been about four years now since we’ve seen them, and it was absolutely wonderful to come and just get a hug,” she said.
Nick Hays, president and CEO of the Winnipeg Airport Authority, said the rug’s return symbolizes positive change for travellers.
“This is a very exciting moment for us all, for the community here, as we emerge from the pandemic and look forward to welcoming many more passengers to our doors here at the airport,” Hays said.
With spring break in Manitoba next week, the airport is expecting more than 9,000 travellers on Sunday — the most in a single day since the start of the pandemic in spring 2020.
While that still falls short of pre-pandemic numbers, which tallied approximately 12,000 travellers through Winnipeg’s airport each day, Hays said the outlook is optimistic.
“We’ve got real recovery on the way. We’re not there yet, but we’re certainly moving in the right direction,” he said.
Hays said safety and security are always a major concern, but now seemed like a safe and appropriate time to welcome that hallmark of a journey complete — hugging — back to the airport.
Travellers must still wear a mask while going through security-screening checkpoints and while in the air. People aged 12 years plus four months or older must provide proof of vaccination to board planes at Canadian airports.
cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca