Robots now deliver meals to gates at SZ airport

Video by Lin Jianping

Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport has partnered with China’s on-demand delivery giant Meituan to introduce an in-terminal autonomous food delivery service at its Satellite Concourse, making it the first airport in the country to offer gate-to-gate deliveries by robots.

A Meituan delivery robot rolls through the terminal alongside passengers at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. Photos courtesy of Meituan

Passengers can order meals from participating merchants in the Satellite Concourse through Meituan’s app and have them delivered to their designated boarding gates by Meituan’s self-developed autonomous delivery robot, dubbed the Little Yellow Bee. The service aims to spare travelers the need to dash to restaurants before boarding.

An airport spokesperson said that 11 chain brands have already joined the system, including Starbucks, KFC, HEYTEA, 7-Eleven, Burger King, and BESTORE. More merchants are expected to join.

A HEYTEA staff member loads a food order into a Meituan autonomous delivery robot at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport. 

“I wanted a cup of HEYTEA, but the outlet is on the far side of the hall. Walking there and back would be tiring and risky for boarding," said Ms. Liu, a passenger who tried the service. "I ordered on Meituan, sat near my gate, and the cute little robot arrived, announcing ‘Your delivery is here!’ It was a lovely surprise.”

A Meituan manager said the launch sets a benchmark for cooperation between the platform and transport hubs nationwide. “We will keep expanding our on-demand ecosystem so users can enjoy seamless life services whether at home, in the office, or on the move,” the manager added.

A Meituan delivery robot navigates the spacious departure hall at Shenzhen Bao’an International Airport.

Meituan, often described as an “everything app,” was founded in 2010 and now serves more than 770 million users annually. The company processes roughly 80 million daily food delivery orders and supports some 14.5 million active merchants across services including food, hotels, travel, and shared bikes, according to its official website.

The trial at the Shenzhen airport represents Meituan’s first expansion into an airport and the debut of the company's latest delivery robot in a major transport hub.