Waymo has received approval to begin testing its self-driving vehicles at San Francisco International Airport, marking a step toward launching its commercial operations there.
On Tuesday, the San Francisco mayor’s office revealed that SFO and Waymo have agreed to a “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit,” following extensive negotiations over the years. This permit at SFO follows closely after Waymo obtained permission to test vehicles at San Jose Mineta International Airport, and comes as Tesla is also aiming to provide ride-hailing services at these locations.
While SFO isn’t the first airport Waymo has operated in—having run services at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport since 2023—it has long been a focus for the company due to its status as the main airport for Silicon Valley, Waymo’s headquarters.
Initially, in 2023, SFO officials turned down Waymo’s requests, but this year the company was allowed to begin mapping the airport, signaling a shift in their relationship.
With the new permit in hand, Waymo is set to proceed through three stages. The first involves operating its autonomous vehicles with a trained safety operator present. The second will see employees and airport staff using the service. The final stage grants permission for Waymo to start charging for rides.
When Waymo reaches the third stage, it plans to provide pickup and dropoff services at the airport’s “Kiss & Fly area,” which requires passengers to use the AirTrain to access the terminals. The company also stated its intention to consider additional airport locations moving forward.
Chris Bonelli, a spokesperson for Waymo, shared with TechCrunch that testing is expected to commence shortly, though he did not specify dates for the following stages. He mentioned that the phase involving paid rides would operate on a “month-to-month” basis as Waymo collaborates with SFO to secure a long-term commercial permit.
Adding SFO to Waymo’s service network would represent another milestone for the company in 2024. Waymo has recently expanded into several new markets and formed partnerships with companies such as Uber, with more collaborations expected by 2026. Its presence in Silicon Valley continues to grow, making service at SFO a likely next step.
This article has been revised to include updated details from Waymo regarding the project timeline.
