Waymo robotaxis are now giving rides to and from San Francisco International Airport

Core Insights - Waymo has received approval to operate a robotaxi service to and from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), marking a significant milestone after years of negotiations [1][5] - The service will initially be available to a select number of riders, with plans to expand access to all customers in the coming months [1] - Waymo's operations at SFO are crucial for its business model, which relies on geographic scale and high rider volume [3] Group 1: Operational Developments - Pickups and drop-offs for the robotaxi service will occur at the SFO Rental Car Center, accessible via AirTrain [1] - Waymo has accelerated its expansion efforts, launching services in new cities, increasing its fleet size, and adding more operational areas, including most of the San Francisco Bay Area and parts of Silicon Valley [4] - The company also operates in cities like Atlanta, Austin, Los Angeles, Miami, and Phoenix, including curbside service to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport [4] Group 2: Safety Concerns - Waymo faces criticism regarding safety, particularly after an incident where one of its robotaxis struck a child near an elementary school in Santa Monica, leading to an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) [2] - The NHTSA is also investigating Waymo for illegal behavior of its robotaxis around school buses [2] Group 3: Regulatory Milestones - Waymo's journey to operate at SFO included a failed attempt to secure a permit in 2023, followed by a successful negotiation that granted a permit in March 2025 for mapping SFO with data-sharing conditions [5] - In September, Waymo and SFO signed a testing and operations pilot permit, bringing the company closer to commercial operations at the airport [7]