Hamburg Airport trials gate delivery for food & beverage

GERMANY. Hamburg Airport has launched what it claims is the first German airport gate delivery service for food & beverage items.

With concessionaire VAAIR Airport GmbH — which runs Café Scoom and Pier2Bar – the airport is testing a new scheme, through which passengers can order snacks and drinks online to be delivered to their departure gate. The test phase runs until mid-July.

“Gate delivery is an innovative extension to our digital service offering,” said Hamburg Airport Head of Center Management Lutz Deubel. “The service has many advantages for our passengers, ranging from waiting time at the gate being saved to the reduced distance to be covered in the terminals.

“The target group is diverse, from business travellers without much time to families departing on holiday who would rather spend their time at the gate, enjoying the view over the apron. During the test phase we want to find out how well the service is received by our passengers.”

The gate delivery service, which is running as a test between 5am and 10am daily, will be rolled out across the full day if it becomes a permanent feature (Photo: Michael Penner)

Travellers can place their orders online at www.hamburg-airport.de/shop. During the test phase, the range extends to snacks like baguettes and cinnamon pastries along with cold drinks such as water and cola. Then they pay online via Paypal or credit card. Registration is not required.

The prices are the same as in the VAAIR cafés and bars, with no extra charge for delivery. The “Gate Delivery” staff, recognisable from their red uniforms, bring the order to the departure gate within a ten-minute time window. The passenger may choose to receive the delivery immediately or at a predetermined time. Food and drinks are delivered to the passenger in a stable paper bag, to be consumed at the gate or carried on board.

During the test phase, the service is available daily between 5am and 10am — aimed at breakfast diners. If the test proves successful, a permanent all-day service is planned.

NOTE: The Moodie Davitt Report also publishes The Foodie Report, the world’s only media focused on airport (and other travel-related) food & beverage. The Foodie Report e-Newsletter is published every two weeks and The Foodie Report e-Zine every month.

Please send all news of food & beverage outlet openings, together with images, menus, video etc to Martin@MoodieDavittReport.com to ensure unrivalled global exposure.

The company also organises the annual Airport Food & Beverage (FAB) Conference & Awards. This year’s FAB will be held in Helsinki on 20 and 21 June. Click here for details.

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