Airport cellphone waiting areas are stating to look a lot like fast-food drive ins, according to USA Today.
A few airports are allowing food trucks to set up shop on or near cellphones lots, where people are waiting to pick up passengers. The trucks serve airport employees, those picking up passengers and travelers.
"A huge trend is airports is being able to showcase the food and drinks of a region because the airport is the front door of the community where travelers get the first impression," said Deborah McElroy, interim president of Airports Council international North America. "It really does help reflect the flavor of the community."
A spokesman for San Francisco International Airport, said the first day the food trucks arrived they sold out. She said workers emailed in their order to get a chance to try the food trucks meals.
According to USA Today cellphone waiting areas were introduced after 9/11 for security concerns over too many vehicles idling near terminals
Katy Smith, a spokesperson for the Tucson Airport Authority said the airports want to provide a unique food option for their customer. She said it is 13,000 local residents who work on the property.
"We especially wanted to enhance the experience for people picking up travelers," Smith said. " Our airport is a community asset for everyone, and we want locals to enjoy their experiences here."
The food truck market, is one of the fastest-growing segments of the restaurant industry. In the National Restaurant Association survey last year, 43 percent of adults said they had purchased items from a food truck.
"The airports recognize that the cellphone lot provides an important service for the community, and inviting food trucks there is a natural extension of the airports' commitment to take care of community's needs," said McElory.
