Waymo gets go-ahead to begin testing at SFO

“The approval of this permit with Waymo provides passengers with a new and innovative option that delivers the dependability and ease travelers expect when coming through SFO, the gateway to San Francisco,” SFO director Mike Nakornkhet said in a statement.

The first phase entails allowing Waymo vehicles to self-drive on designated roads at the airport with a trained specialist behind the wheel. In the second phase, Waymo cars in full autonomous mode will start picking up and dropping off SFO and Waymo employees.

The third phase includes kicking off commercial operations for all Waymo customers in a pilot period.

The permit agreement also includes strict safety and reporting requirements to evaluate performance.

Efforts to bring Waymo to SFO go back to 2023, but delays in permit approvals stalled plans. Additionally, Waymo did not receive permission to expand operations into San Mateo County, where the airport is based, and on freeways until 2024.

In March, Waymo was granted a permit to begin mapping roads at SFO.

“We announced in March that we wanted visitors to be able to ride in a Waymo as soon as they arrived in San Francisco, and today, we are taking another important step to get there,” Lurie said in a statement.

Waymo, which launched fully autonomous ride-hailing services in San Francisco in 2022, first began airport operations at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in 2022. Earlier this month, Waymo got the green light to start pickups and drop offs at San Jose Mineta International Airport.

Bringing Waymo to SFO, Lurie said, will also offer tourists a unique experience that helps define San Francisco as a hub for technology and innovation.

“We have tourists from around the world that want to try out our autonomous vehicles and they are soon going to have the opportunity starting right when they land at our great airport,” Lurie said in a video posted to his Instagram account Tuesday.