Why McDonald's And Chick-Fil-A Are The Fast Food Restaurants With The Most Airport Locations
Airports hold multitudes. Not only are there thousands of passengers traveling from one location to the next, but these spots are also home to many restaurants for anyone in need of refueling. In the same airports with gourmet restaurants, a weary traveler can just as easily find food served quickly at an affordable price.
In the limbo that is an airport, there's comfort and familiarity to be found in popular fast food chains. Some airports are teeming with fast food locations to choose from, while the fast food landscape of other airports is much more sparse. There are many different such chains to choose from, but two popular ones dominate the airport fast food scene: Chick-fil-A and McDonald's.
Boasting 35 locations each, Chick-fil-A and McDonald's tie for the most locations in the 60 busiest U.S. airports. But why are they seemingly everywhere you might fly? The fast service and familiar menus provided by these fast food chains are major contributors to their airport presence, where travelers often want something comforting served up fast.
Making airports feel like home
After a stressful flight riddled with turbulence, for some the golden arches of McDonald's serve as a beacon of hope in an unfamiliar airport. Plus, a quick trip to McDonald's during a tight layover might be the last opportunity for some travelers to enjoy a Big Mac before flying to countries where McDonald's restaurants are basically illegal. But even if they can still access the many locations all around the world, McDonald's has become the epitome of fast food. Its familiar menu of burgers, nuggets, and coffee provide a sense of consistency no matter how far travelers are from home.
This sense of familiarity is also a strength of Chick-fil-A in the airport game. This revered chicken chain is able to serve consistently good food at a fast pace, making it ideal for enticing the taste buds of travelers in a rush. No wonder the simple menu and speedy customer service found at Chick-fil-A makes it a popular choice for travelers on par with McD's.