Waymo has received authorization to conduct tests for its robotaxi service at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). This development follows extensive negotiations between Waymo and airport officials. San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie announced that the agreement, termed the “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit,” will allow Waymo to introduce its services to SFO in three phases. These phases include initial tests with a human driver, subsequent tests without a driver, and the eventual launch of commercial operations.
Initially, Waymo will begin testing with its employees before later inviting the public to use the service for trips to and from the airport. During the testing phase, pickups and drop-offs will occur at SFO’s Kiss & Fly lot, which connects to the terminals via the AirTrain.
Currently, Waymo operates in five cities but only offers its services at Phoenix’s Sky Harbor Airport. The company has been engaged in negotiations with SFO for several years, focusing on ensuring that its vehicles can safely navigate the busy environment that includes numerous cars, taxis, shuttles, and passengers.
Airports are seen as lucrative markets for robotaxis, with estimates suggesting that such trips account for around 20 percent of ride-hailing services provided by human drivers. Access to airports is crucial for Waymo if it aims to compete with established services like Uber and Lyft and work towards achieving profitability. This move raises questions about the future of transportation at airports and the role of autonomous vehicles in that landscape.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/779039/waymo-sfo-airport-permit-robotaxi