Waymo Finally Clears Hurdle to Roll Out Robotaxis from SFO Airport
In a major victory for Alphabet-owned Waymo, the company has finally secured approval to operate its self-driving taxis at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). The approval comes after years of setbacks and criticism, including a recent incident in Santa Monica where one of its robotaxis struck a child near an elementary school.
According to the company, the robotaxis will be available for a limited time to a select group of riders before opening up to the masses in the coming months. Passengers will be picked up and dropped off at the SFO Rental Car Center, which is easily accessible via AirTrain. While the company plans to expand to other airport areas in the future, for now, that’s where the magic will happen.
Waymo’s co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana hailed the news, saying that serving rides to and from SFO will deliver some of the most requested options for their riders and further deepen their relationship with the city. This approval is a major win for Waymo, which relies on geographic scale and a high volume of riders to stay afloat.
This isn’t the first time Waymo has faced criticism and setbacks. The company has been under investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for its robotaxis’ behavior around school buses, and faced concerns over safety issues in some of the cities it operates.
Despite these challenges, Waymo has been ramping up its plans over the past year. The company has launched in new cities, increased its fleet size, and added freeways to its operations. Now, Waymo robotaxis are available in many areas of the San Francisco Bay Area and Silicon Valley, as well as parts of Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix, including curbside service to the Sky Harbor Phoenix International Airport.
Getting to this point wasn’t easy, though. Waymo tried and failed to secure a permit to map SFO in 2023, and it took a reboot of negotiations with the city and airport authorities to get the okay in March 2025. But, it seems all that hard work paid off.
For now, the company is focused on expanding its services to more riders and locations. Stay tuned for more updates on the latest tech news and developments. And if you’re in Boston on June 23, 2026, come join us for our upcoming event and see what’s new in the world of autonomous vehicles!
