Waymo Launches Passenger Rides at SFO, But Not to the Terminals

Waymo has finally made headway in its San Francisco operations. The company revealed today that it will begin offering robotaxi rides to a select group of passengers traveling to and from San Francisco International Airport, marking a significant milestone in Waymo’s expansion in the Bay Area. The plan is to gradually increase the number of riders until anyone can hail a Waymo at the airport, which is expected to happen “in the coming months.”

After extensive negotiations with airport officials, Waymo secured a “Testing and Operations Pilot Permit” with SFO in September 2025. This agreement outlines a three-phase rollout for Waymo’s airport service, starting with vehicles operated by a human driver, moving to driverless testing, and ultimately launching commercial service. According to SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel, Waymo has successfully completed the first two phases and is now entering the final phase.

However, Waymo won’t have unrestricted access to SFO’s terminals just yet. Initially, pickups and drop-offs will occur at the Rental Car Center, which connects to the terminals via the AirTrain. Access to additional locations, including the main terminals, will be introduced later.

Yakel explained that starting in the rental car area allows airport operators to “isolate” Waymo’s robotaxis from the busy passenger terminals, similar to the initial rollout at Phoenix’s airport. Adjustments may be made based on Waymo’s performance during this pilot phase.

“This careful, deliberate approach makes us comfortable launching passenger operations, knowing we can continue to make adjustments as we move forward,” Yakel stated.

Waymo currently operates 24/7 robotaxi services in the San Francisco Bay Area, Los Angeles, and Phoenix, with Miami just beginning operations. The company also offers driverless services in Atlanta and Austin, mainly through a partnership with Uber. So far, it only serves two airports: Phoenix and San Jose.

The journey to this point has been challenging. Reports indicate that negotiations between Waymo and SFO included rejection letters, a “harshly worded” cease-and-desist notice, and contentious contract discussions. Nevertheless, Waymo received approval late last year.

Airports present a significant revenue opportunity for robotaxis, with airport trips making up about 20 percent of human-driven ride-hailing trips. The announcement of passenger services comes just weeks before the Bay Area is set to host Super Bowl LX and the FIFA World Cup later this year. Local officials are optimistic that visitors will opt for Waymo instead of rental cars to help ease traffic congestion.