Waymo, the self-driving technology company, has made a significant breakthrough at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The company has announced that it will begin offering robotaxi rides to a select group of passengers traveling to and from the airport. This move marks a major step in Waymo’s efforts to expand its presence in the Bay Area.
After years of negotiations with SFO’s operators, Waymo secured a “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” in September 2025. The permit outlines a phased approach for Waymo’s airport service, starting with testing vehicles with a human driver, then progressing to testing without a driver, and finally launching commercial service. Waymo has successfully completed the first two phases and is now entering the third phase, according to SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel.
However, Waymo’s access to SFO’s terminals will be limited initially. Pickups and drop-offs will take place at SFO’s Rental Car Center, which is accessible to the terminals via the AirTrain. Additional locations, such as the main terminals, will be added later.
Yakel explained that starting at the rental car lot allows airport operators to “isolate” Waymo’s robotaxis from the busy passenger terminals, similar to the approach taken at Phoenix’s airport. SFO may make adjustments based on Waymo’s performance during this phase of the pilot program.
Waymo currently operates 24/7 robotaxi services in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, with Miami recently joining the list. The company’s driverless services are also available in Atlanta and Austin through a partnership with Uber. Waymo serves two airports to date: Phoenix and San Jose.
The road to launching robotaxi services at SFO has been challenging, with talks between Waymo and SFO including rejections, a cease-and-desist letter, and contentious contract negotiations. Despite these obstacles, Waymo received approval to operate at the airport late last year.
Airports present a lucrative opportunity for robotaxis, with airport trips accounting for an estimated 20% of human-driven ride-hail car trips. The announcement of passenger trips at SFO comes ahead of major events in the Bay Area, such as Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup. Local officials hope that visitors will opt for Waymo instead of rental cars to alleviate traffic congestion during these events.
In conclusion, Waymo’s expansion into SFO marks a significant milestone for the company and the future of autonomous transportation. With careful planning and collaboration with airport operators, Waymo is paving the way for a new era of transportation at one of the busiest airports in the United States.