Alphabet’s self-driving unit Waymo said on Thursday it has been cleared to operate at San Jose Mineta International Airport, marking its first airport service in California. The company said testing of its autonomous vehicles at the site will begin in the coming months, with commercial passenger rides expected to start before the end of 2025.
Waymo has long sought to serve airports in its home state. In 2023, discussions with San Francisco International Airport officials failed to secure approval. Earlier this year, however, Waymo was granted a permit to begin manually mapping the airport, a preliminary step toward commercial service there.
“It’s the perfect time for Waymo’s autonomous vehicles to begin to roll into San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley,” said San José Mayor Matt Mahan. “For decades, our region has shaped the future — and Waymo embodies our region’s spirit of innovation. With San José at the epicenter of the biggest sporting events of 2026, Waymo is an ideal mode of transportation that will help visitors move around the area smoothly and safely.”
The company already operates airport trips in Arizona. Waymo began curbside pickup and drop-off at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in late 2023 and expanded to 24/7 service in August 2024. It says the Arizona airport has become its most popular destination, with “hundreds of thousands” of trips completed since launch.
“We look forward to offering fully autonomous rides at San José Mineta International Airport terminals in the future,” said Annabel Chang, Head of U.S. State and Local Public Policy, Waymo
The San Jose expansion comes as Waymo accelerates its rollout across the United States. The company operates more than 2,000 robotaxis nationwide, including about 800 in the Bay Area, 500 in Los Angeles, 400 in Phoenix, 100 in Austin, and dozens in Atlanta.
It has also announced plans to expand service to Denver and Seattle and launch commercial operations in Dallas, Miami and Washington, D.C. Waymo recently received approval to begin testing in New York City.
The San Jose launch adds to growing competition among autonomous vehicle developers as they seek to scale operations and integrate services into major transit hubs. For Waymo, the ability to offer commercial rides at California airports represents a milestone in its efforts to expand beyond city streets into critical transportation corridors.