SEATTLE -- Airport travelers might soon have the option to shop at an Amazon Go store at their terminal while waiting for a flight, according to a Reuters report. Amazon also is considering opening a flagship Amazon Go store in London’s West End neighborhood, reported The Telegraph.
An Amazon spokesperson declined to comment to CSP Daily News about these reports.
With “just walk out” technology allowing customers to walk in, scan their phone, grab whatever they need and walk out, Amazon Go seems like a logical fit for the grab-and-go atmosphere of airport terminals.
Reuters cited emails and a meeting between a technology adviser who supports Los Angeles International (LAX) and a concession representative. One email read, “I am looking forward to moving forward with the Amazon Go technology at the airport.”
The correspondence does not guarantee that Amazon Go will appear in LAX. Amazon would have to participate in a bidding process to open a location in the airport, the news agency said.
There is already precedent for including Amazon Go in a transit hub. The third Amazon Go location in Chicago, situated on the second floor of the Ogilvie Transportation Center, a train station connecting the city to the suburbs and beyond, is a prime example of the store functioning in a similar space.
Amazon is exploring placing a 3,000- to 5,000-square-foot Amazon Go in London’s West End neighborhood, The Telegraph said, which would act as a flagship store for the area. If the square footage is correct, the rumored London location could be the largest Amazon Go at this time. The largest Amazon Go today is in San Francisco at 2,300 square feet.
If the rumor of airport locations is true, it would mean a wider reach and more data for Amazon Go, but convenience stores are not likely to be affected much, as only a handful of airports include established c-store brands. If a London flagship store is on its way, perhaps London c-stores and small grocers should keep an eye on Amazon Go.
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