Waymo Wants to Expand Self-Driving Taxis at San Francisco Airport

Waymo is trying to expand its self-driving taxi operations in San Francisco to cover the city’s airport.

Emails obtained by a Freedom of Information Act request and seen by tech outlet TechCrunch reveal the extent of the company’s ambitions.

They show how the firm, owned by Google parent Alphabet, would like to carry out pick-ups and drop-offs at San Francisco International Airport (SFO), which would constitute another significant landmark following a major extension in its local coverage earlier this year.

In March, the state’s Public Utilities Commission gave approval for Waymo to commence operations across a wide area of the Peninsula including Sunnyvale, Palo Alto, Mountain View and San Mateo. It also gained permission for its AVs to travel at speeds of up to 65 mph on highways, some of which reach SFO.

The company cites its experience at Sky Harbor International Airport in  Phoenix, Arizona, where it launched in 2022 – and is now offering curbside pick-ups – as evidence of its readiness to operate at SFO.

Airports are a lucrative target for self-driving taxi operators, with trips to and from them traditionally representing a major portion of business for ride-hailing companies. But they can pose a number of challenges for autonomous vehicles, due to the heavy traffic volume and confused nature of the driving, with many motorists uncertain of where they are meant to be going.

Related:Waymo California Expansion Gets Greenlight

And the process of gaining permission to operate at SFO looks set to be a long one, because access there relies on a permit from a body Waymo has not yet dealt with – the San Francisco Airport Commission.

“Given that this is a new mode of transportation, we would need to create a new permit structure, similar to what we did 10 years ago for companies like Uber and Lyft,” said spokesperson Doug Yakel.  

For context, Uber was only granted SFO approval in 2014, four years after launching in the city in 2010.

It is understood that SFO would like Waymo to build up more experience in San Francisco and the wider area before it is prepared to even consider the idea of any activity at the airport, including mapping – underscoring a decision to rebuff a previous effort by the company to map SFO in September 2023.

In the newly seen emails, Waymo’s desire to try again is evident as it requests a meeting, explaining: “Waymo riders in the Bay Area consistently ask Waymo to provide service to SFO. We would like to partner with airport leaders and staff to work towards that future goal.” In a separate statement it said it would proceed with SFO in a “phased and collaborative manner.”

Related:Waymo Robotaxis Transport Visitors at Phoenix Airport

However, the airport’s current stance makes it unlikely the company will receive the required approvals imminently.