Every time I travel, I find myself dreading one particular section of the airport—the duty-free shop. I'm not alone in this experience. For individuals who are sensitive or allergic to synthetic perfumes, entering a duty-free shop is not just an inconvenience; it's a health hazard. I frequently suffer from headaches, sore eyes, and a sore throat due to the overwhelming presence of fragrances in these spaces.

The requirement to walk through duty-free areas in airports exposes thousands of travelers to a barrage of scents, a situation that many of us find intolerable. While airports and duty-free shops argue that this setup is lucrative, it sidelines a significant portion of travellers who find themselves physically uncomfortable and jeopardized by this design.

Studies have shown that exposure to synthetic fragrances can trigger symptoms such as headaches, respiratory issues, and skin irritation, and in some cases, even lead to serious health problems. Global research has indicated that 30% of people report adverse reactions to perfumes or colognes worn by others or sprayed into the air (1) (2) (3). Therefore, many travellers are not just inconvenienced—they are actively harmed by this practice. This is not simply a case of 'annoyance' but a hazard to health.

Implementing alternative routes that allow passengers to bypass these areas, or increasing awareness and utilizing scent-free zones, are feasible solutions that can accommodate the varying needs of passengers without compromising commercial interests. Other airports around the world have successfully implemented such measures, demonstrating that accommodating sensitive passengers is both practical and feasible.

We urge airport authorities to take into consideration the health and comfort of all travelers by providing optional pathways that do not require passing through duty-free shops. By doing so, airports can become more inclusive and respectful of diverse passenger needs.

Please sign this petition to encourage airports to rethink their layout and policy to prevent mandatory duty-free walk-throughs, ensuring that travelling remains a safe and comfortable experience for everyone.

The specific goal of this campaign is to request that UK Airports change the layout to allow a perfume-free path to gates for passengers.

These are the companies that manage Manchester, Stanstead, East Midlands and Heathrow airports if you wish to contact them directly about this issue:
https://www.magairports.com/
https://www.heathrow.com/company/about-heathrow 

(1) https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5093181/#:~:text=Overall%2C%2034.7%20%25%20of%20the%20population,improve%20air%20quality%20and%20health

(2) https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11869-019-00699-4

(3) https://ec.europa.eu/health/scientific_committees/consumer_safety/docs/sccs_o_102.pdf