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Waymo Autonomous Pickups Approved at San Jose SJC
San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) has approved Waymo autonomous pickups for arriving passengers, opening driverless rides to the public at the terminal.
The move lets Waymo, the autonomous vehicle unit of Alphabet, operate driverless electric vehicles to pick up arriving travelers at SJC after months of employee testing. The airport call sign SJC now joins the company’s existing airport operations in the Phoenix area, marking a rare airport-level green light for public autonomous pick-ups.
What the Waymo autonomous pickups approval means
The decision aims to make ground transfers easier and support sustainability goals by using electric, shared vehicle trips rather than private cars. Waymo’s approval follows internal trials and coordination with airport authorities on staging areas, curb management, and passenger safety. The company will operate without a human safety driver in the vehicle during public runs.
Airport officials say the program is designed to fit current curbside rules and passenger flows at SJC, while operators will monitor metrics such as wait times and vehicle dwell. For travelers, the process should feel familiar: request a ride via the Waymo app, follow curb signage, and board the vehicle when it arrives at the designated pick-up point.
- Waymo autonomous pickups: public, driverless electric cars will collect arriving passengers at SJC.
- Operator: Waymo (Alphabet subsidiary) expanding beyond its Phoenix-area operations.
- Location: San Jose Mineta International Airport (SJC) — new approved airport curb access.
Beyond convenience, airports are watching autonomous services as part of broader ground-transport strategies that aim to reduce emissions and congestion. San Jose’s approval could help shape how other U.S. airports evaluate similar services, especially where dedicated staging and clear curb protocols already exist.
Travelers curious about using the service should check SJC’s official ground-transport pages or the Waymo app for exact pick-up points, pricing, and accessibility details. As this rollout progresses, expect airport updates on operational hours, safety procedures, and any pilot expansions.
