United Airlines Tests Gate Delivery Food Service At Newark
United Airlines is trialing a mobile app service at Newark Liberty International Airport that lets passengers order food and essentials for delivery
United Airlines is testing a new mobile app feature for food and essentials delivery directly to the departure gate at Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR). The service is a collaboration with On the Go (OTG), the airport's primary food and beverage vendor manager.
Travelers booked on select United flights from gates C125 through C138 will receive a push notification in the airline's app about the option. OTG prepares the orders and delivers them to a designated pickup spot at the gate, similar to a carry-out shelf at a restaurant. United is not charging an additional fee for the delivery service.
Participating Restaurants and Items
Initially, the participating restaurants at EWR's Terminal C are Nonna's Kitchen and Victory Grille. According to the source, their Yelp scores are relatively low.
| Restaurant | Yelp Score |
|---|---|
| Nonna's Kitchen | 2.4 stars |
| Victory Grille | 1.9 stars |
Passengers can also order other essential items like over-the-counter medicine or charging cords. The airline's Chief Customer Officer, David Kinzelman, stated, "The time right before boarding is one of those moments when customers want quick, easy access to food without added complexity."
Expansion Plans and Evaluation
The pilot program will expand to George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) later this year. United will collect customer feedback during the trial to decide on further expansion to other concourses or airports. If successful, the airline plans to let passengers order via seatback inflight entertainment screens for pickup upon arrival.
Context of Other Announcements
The source report also notes several other recent United announcements unrelated to the food delivery test. The airline has revealed 14 new routes from Newark, many slated for the new Airbus A321XLR. It will resume service to Tel Aviv on September 8 and to Dubai on November 8.
A separate new app feature will allow customers to select up to three standby flights scheduled earlier than their booked flight. United will monitor availability and notify users if a seat opens.
Finally, the airline continues its fleet upgrade with Starlink WiFi. A tracking website cited in the source shows 523 of United's 1,787 aircraft had received the upgrade as of September 2.
