Waymo Pushes for Robotaxi Access At San Francisco Airport

Alphabet Inc GOOG GOOGL autonomous ride hailing service Waymo is gathering its efforts to secure access for its robotaxis at San Francisco International Airport (SFO).

The company aims to start pickups and drop-offs at the airport, according to emails reviewed by TechCrunch.

While Waymo already holds permits to operate its robotaxi service in San Francisco, parts of the Peninsula, and on highways leading to the airport, SFO access requires separate approval from the San Francisco Airport Commission.

Permits for airport access are granted at SFO’s discretion. According to SFO spokesperson Doug Yakel, the process for Waymo may be as complex as it was for Uber Technologies Inc UBER and Lyft Inc LYFT over a decade ago, the report mentioned.

“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,” Yakel wrote in response to questions, per the report.

Despite a failed attempt in 2023 to map the airport, Waymo is committed to navigating the lengthy approval process.

Communications between Waymo executives, SFO officials, and Mayor London Breed’s office since March 2024 highlight ongoing discussions and meeting arrangements.

In an email to SFO General Manager Ivar Satero, Waymo’s Chief Product Officer Saswat Panigrahi emphasized the company’s expertise in San Francisco and at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

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Panigrahi expressed Waymo riders’ demand for service to SFO and the company’s willingness to partner with airport leaders.

The report further noted a Waymo spokesperson who confirmed preliminary talks with SFO to start noncommercial mapping with a human driver at the airport. The company plans to follow a phased approach similar to its partnership with Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport.

The first procedural step involves digital mapping of SFO’s roadways, a permit for which was postponed in 2023 by Abubakar Azam, SFO’s director of landside operations.

Autonomous vehicles, though promising, have a long way to go as a series of crash incidents question their credibility.

In February, Waymo issued a voluntary recall for its autonomous vehicle software following two incidents in Phoenix on Dec. 11, 2023, where two Waymo robotaxis crashed into the same towed pickup truck within minutes of each other.

In early June Waymo recalled 672 of its self-driving vehicles after identifying their inability to avoid a pole or pole-like objects.

However, Waymo released a safety report in June pegging its autonomous driving technology as better than that of a human driver, resulting in fewer crashes.

The California Public Utilities Commission granted Waymo autonomous operations approval for San Mateo County in March 2024. However, SFO officials want to see Waymo safely serving surrounding communities before approving airport activities.

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Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Image via Shutterstock

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