Holiday travels can leave frequent flyers feeling stressed — that’s why one airport introduced therapy animals as a way for people to cope.
But these aren’t your typical comfort canines; instead, the Portland International Airport is employing llamas.
The incredibly furry, huggable and mammoth llamas named Beni and Prince took a trip to the travel hub this month dressed their best in festive garb: their necks adorned with holly red bows and poinsettias with a pair of antlers atop their heads.
The 400-pound visitors, from the non-profit Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas, calmed the masses amid the chaos of the holidays and made spirits soar, welcoming embraces, head rubs and even some smooches as they made their way through the terminals.
“The llamas deliver instant joy,” Allison Ferre, the media relations manager for the Port of Portland, told USA Today.
Footage of the pair’s anticipated visit went viral online, the airport’s official Instagram page writing how “wonderful” it was to “see how many smiles they brought to travelers.”
“Getting to hug THERAPY LLAMAS during one of the most stressful travel seasons is life giving,” the official Mountain Peaks account wrote on Instagram. “We are so happy we could help lighten so many spirits!!”
On TikTok, viewers gushed over the cuddly creatures, saying they’d gladly miss their connections if it meant spending some quality time with the gentle giants.
“I already know I would miss my flight to cuddle the llamas,” one user wrote.
“And my heart grew 3x’s after watching this video,” another said.
Mountain Peaks, located about 22 miles north of Portland in Ridgefield, Washington, offers on-site therapy visits with the animals, as well as visits to local senior communities, healthcare facilities, weddings, parties and more.
The Post has reached out to the Portland International Airport and Mountain Peaks Therapy Llamas & Alpacas for comment.