Waymo Gets Green Light to Test Robotaxis at SFO

Waymo has secured permission to test its robotaxi service at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), a significant victory in its expansion efforts. After lengthy negotiations, Waymo signed a “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” with SFO, allowing a three-phase rollout: human-supervised testing, driverless testing, and finally, commercial operation. Testing will begin with employees before public access, initially using SFO's Kiss & Fly lot, accessible via AirTrain. While Waymo operates in five cities, SFO represents a major expansion, given its high-traffic environment and lucrative potential. Airport trips represent an estimated 20% of ride-hail trips, making airport access crucial for Waymo to compete with Uber and Lyft and achieve profitability.