Waymo approved to start testing autonomous vehicles at San Francisco International Airport

Waymo has received a permit to begin testing its autonomous vehicles (AVs) at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), marking a significant step toward launching commercial service there. The San Francisco mayor’s office announced that SFO and Waymo signed a “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” after prolonged negotiations. This approval follows a recent permit allowing Waymo to test at San Jose Mineta International Airport and builds on its existing autonomous operations at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor airport since 2023. The permit enables Waymo to proceed in three phases: initial testing with a trained specialist behind the wheel, followed by passenger service trials with employees and airport staff, and finally, offering paid rides to the public. Once in the third phase, Waymo plans to provide pickups and drop-offs at SFO’s “Kiss & Fly” area, which connects to terminals via the AirTrain, with intentions to expand to other airport locations in the future. This development aligns with Waymo’s broader expansion efforts in Silicon Valley