Waymo wins approval to test autonomous vehicles at San Francisco International Airport
Waymo has taken a major step toward expanding its self-driving ride-hailing service in the Bay Area. The company announced that it has secured a Testing and Operations Pilot Permit to begin operating at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), one of the busiest travel hubs in the United States.
The permit, unveiled Tuesday by the San Francisco mayor’s office, marks the culmination of years of negotiations between Waymo and airport authorities. It comes just two weeks after the company was cleared to test at San Jose Mineta International Airport, underscoring the momentum behind Waymo’s efforts to establish an autonomous airport service network.
Building on Previous Airport Experience
SFO is not the first airport in Waymo’s portfolio. Since 2023, the company has been providing autonomous ride-hailing services at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, one of the earliest and largest test beds for airport-based AV operations. Still, SFO has been a long-standing target, given its role as the primary international gateway for Silicon Valley, Waymo’s home turf.
Negotiations with airport officials had been tense in earlier years, with Waymo initially rebuffed in 2023. But signs of progress emerged this year when the company received approval to map the airport’s layout—a critical prerequisite for autonomous navigation. The newly granted permit confirms that the partnership has entered a new phase.
A Three-Stage Rollout
Under the agreement, Waymo will advance through a three-phase rollout at SFO:
- Testing with Safety Specialists – Vehicles will operate in full autonomous mode but with a trained human specialist behind the wheel.
- Employee Pilot Service – Waymo will expand testing by offering rides to employees and airport staff.
- Paid Passenger Service – The final stage will allow commercial service, beginning with pickups and drop-offs at the airport’s “Kiss & Fly” area, accessible via the AirTrain to passenger terminals.
Waymo noted that it will explore additional pickup and drop-off locations at SFO in the future.
Expanding Footprint in 2025 and Beyond
The SFO deal is the latest in a series of milestones for Waymo this year. The company has expanded operations across multiple U.S. cities, forged new partnerships—including with Uber—and continues to grow its Silicon Valley service area, making airport integration a natural next step.
Looking ahead, Waymo says it intends to deepen its airport services while building out broader commercial operations, with more expansions slated for 2026.
