Waymo Robotaxis Now Serve San Francisco Airport
Self-driving cars just got a lot more useful for Bay Area travelers. Waymo's robotaxis can now pick up and drop off passengers at San Francisco International Airport after years of working toward this milestone.
Getting to the airport just became easier for thousands of San Francisco travelers.
Waymo, the self-driving car company owned by Alphabet, announced it's now offering robotaxi rides to and from San Francisco International Airport. The service started with select riders this week and will expand to all Waymo customers in the coming months.
Pickups and drop-offs happen at SFO's Rental Car Center, which connects to the main terminals via AirTrain. Waymo plans to add more airport locations as the service grows.
This airport access represents a major win for both travelers and the company. "Serving rides to and from San Francisco International Airport delivers one of the most requested features for our riders," said Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana.
The road to SFO wasn't quick. Waymo first tried to secure mapping permits in 2023 but faced roadblocks. After rebooting talks with city and airport officials, the company finally got approval to map the airport in March 2025. By September, they had signed a testing and operations pilot permit.
Airport service is crucial for Waymo's growth strategy, which depends on serving high numbers of riders across wide areas. SFO joins a growing list of airports in Waymo's network, including San Jose Airport in Silicon Valley and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport.
The Ripple Effect
Waymo's expansion shows how self-driving technology is moving from experiment to everyday convenience. The company now operates across most of the San Francisco Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and parts of Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix.
For travelers, this means more transportation choices, potentially lower costs, and rides available 24/7 without surge pricing. For cities, robotaxis could eventually reduce airport traffic congestion and parking demand.
The technology continues improving as more riders use the service. Each trip helps Waymo's systems learn and adapt to real-world conditions, from busy airport roads to complex pickup zones.
This milestone proves that patient collaboration between tech companies and city officials can lead to innovations that serve everyone better.
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Based on reporting by TechCrunch
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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