United Airlines is trialling a new service that lets passengers order food, over-the-counter medicine and travel essentials through its app for delivery straight to their departure gate. The pilot, running at nine gates in Terminal C of Newark Liberty International Airport, aims to make waiting for flights more convenient and could point to a wider shift in how airlines use their apps to generate extra revenue and improve the airport experience.

Passengers on eligible flights may receive a pre-departure notification via the United app or email, offering items such as salads, sandwiches, snacks, drinks, travel pillows and charging cords, which are then left on pickup shelves at the gate. United is running the trial with OTG, which manages dining and retail at Terminal C, and plans to expand testing to Houston later this year before considering a broader rollout, potentially integrating ordering into in-flight entertainment systems for connecting passengers. The airline recently also introduced an app feature allowing rebooked passengers to join standby lists for up to three earlier flights.