Customers can choose to pick up their orders or have them delivered to their gate by robot
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA) is introducing its new robot, named Gita, after the successful rollout of its OrderSEA mobile ordering system.
Since the beginning of summer, passengers have been able to order eats from around the terminal using a mobile app or online, with over 1,200 orders having been placed since the service began. OrderSEA now includes 16 restaurants such as Trail Head BBQ and bar and Capitol Hill Food Hall, with more being added in the coming months.
Gita will allow food outlets to deliver their orders to any point across the concourse, after travellers have passed through security and while the majority of orders will still be delivered by humans, it is hoped the robot will be able to deliver more orders in the future.
Sam Cho, Port of Seattle commissioner, said: “Technology can make your airport experience more flexible and less stressful. OrderSEA means travellers can skip standing in a crowded line, the least fun and most stressful part of any trip.”
The airport’s new service is provided by Servy’s Grab Airport Marketplace with Jeff Livney, chief experience officer, adding: “We are excited to partner with Seattle-Tacoma to enable more people to benefit from our contactless order and pay technology with the launch of OrderSEA. [The platform] offers a safe and convenient touch-free alternative to traditional payment options enabling travellers and airport staff to easily place meal orders from digital devices.”
