Uber Eats has landed at Tampa International Airport, where travelers and staff will be able to use the app to order ahead from more than 20 food and retail outlets.
It’s the delivery company’s first official U.S. airport partnership following pilots in Columbus, Ohio, and Charlotte, N.C. It has full operations at Toronto Pearson Airport.
Uber Eats said the system solves a pain point for customers who need something to eat or drink but have little time to spare before boarding. Customers will have to download the Uber Eats app or go to ubereats.com to order.
“We're excited to give travelers and folks who work at the airport a lot more convenience and a little less stress when they're hungry,” said Rob Mitchell, Uber’s head of airports business development, in a statement.
More than 21 million people use Tampa’s airport every year.
The airport service builds on Uber Eats’ move into sports stadiums last year. That program allows customers to order concessions from their seat and pick it up when it’s ready.
And it’s the latest sign of innovation for airport foodservice, which has been hit particularly hard by labor challenges during the pandemic. Self-service ordering kiosks are now a common sight at airport restaurants. And airports are also seen as fertile ground for unmanned food stations such as Subway’s Grab & Go smart fridges.
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