Need a bite at Seattle-Tacoma airport? A robot can deliver food to your gate.

By Tan Vinh, The Seattle Times

Updated: 18 hours ago Published: 18 hours ago

SEATTLE – Thanks to “Gita”, the delivery robot, you no longer have to leave your gate or stand in line to order food at the airport.

Passengers can now order at McDonald’s and other Seattle-Tacoma International Airport restaurants using the Order SEA online food delivery service. For a fee of $ 2.99, Gita, the robot on wheels, accompanied by a human, will deliver your food to your gate, airport officials said Thursday morning.

Gita can store up to 40 pounds of groceries, but if overwhelmed, your meal will be delivered by a human courier instead. But if demand is high, airport officials said there could be a fleet of robotic couriers roaming the terminals in the future.

Passengers with mobile phones or laptops can have sandwiches, coffee and other meals delivered from 15 terminal restaurants such as Trail Head BBQ, Rel’Lish Burger Lounge, Capitol Hill Food Hall and Pei Wei. Officials believe that the airport, with 55 restaurants, will soon be attracting more grocery sellers to sign up for the robotic delivery service.

“Technology can make your airport experience more flexible and stress-free,” said Sam Cho, commissioner for the Port of Seattle, in a prepared statement. “OrderSEA means travelers can skip standing in a crowded line, the least fun and most stressful part of any trip.”

During its most recent soft start, Order SEA took 1,200 food orders, including more than 500 for gate delivery, airport officials reported. Airport officials hope the delivery app will reduce long lines at McDonald’s airport and other popular restaurants nearby.

Gita, the $ 3,200 robot, is owned by AtYourGate, the company that runs the airport delivery app. Philadelphia International Airport also has a meal delivery robot similar to the one used by Sea-Tac.