The global airport food pre-order market is set for strong growth, with its value expected to rise from $1.7 billion in 2024 to $5.2 billion by 2033, according to a report by Research Intelo. The market is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.2 per cent between 2025 and 2033, driven mainly by the digitalisation of airport services and the growing demand for passenger convenience.
Airport food pre-ordering allows travellers to select meals, customise orders and make digital payments before reaching the airport. This helps passengers save time by avoiding long queues and enables quick pick-up or, in some cases, delivery at boarding gates. The trend has gained popularity as airports modernise and travellers look for faster, contactless and more personalised dining options. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role by increasing preference for minimal contact and hygienic food services.
India is emerging as an important growth market for airport food pre-order services. With air passenger traffic expected to cross 400 million annually by 2030, congestion at airport food courts has become a challenge. Digital pre-ordering helps reduce crowding while improving service speed. The widespread use of smartphones, UPI payments and app-based food delivery has further increased acceptance among Indian travellers.
Major airports such as Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad are positioning themselves as lifestyle and retail hubs. For airport operators, food pre-ordering improves passenger experience while also increasing non-aeronautical revenues and operational efficiency.
Growth in domestic travel, a rising number of frequent flyers and the development of smart airports using self-order kiosks, QR menus and AI-based suggestions are supporting market expansion. Partnerships between airports, food brands and technology companies are also helping accelerate adoption.
However, challenges remain, including complex airport layouts, flight delays or changes, limited participation by food outlets and low awareness among passengers in some regions.
In the coming years, new and redeveloped airports in India—such as Jewar, Navi Mumbai and Pune—are expected to further drive growth. Features like digital pick-up zones, real-time order tracking and smart navigation are likely to make pre-ordering more convenient. By 2033, services such as gate delivery, health-based menu suggestions, multilingual platforms and airline loyalty programme integration are expected to shape the future of airport food pre-ordering worldwide.