John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York City is set to launch a pilot program featuring self-driving shuttles, confirmed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Starting mid-July, two autonomous buses manufactured by Ohmio, based in Auckland, New Zealand, will transport passengers within one of the airport’s expansive parking lots throughout the summer.
Equipped with advanced cameras, sensors, and GPS trackers enabling autonomous navigation, each shuttle will also include a human safety monitor onboard to ensure passenger reassurance. These monitors, familiar with the area, will accompany the self-driving buses during operations.
Operating at Parking Lot 9, connected to AirTrain’s Lefferts Boulevard and Howard Beach Stations, the shuttles will follow the same route and stops as conventional human-driven buses, accommodating up to eight seated passengers each.
Initially deploying one shuttle at a time, the Port Authority aims to expand the pilot by introducing more shuttles, potentially forming platoons to enhance passenger convenience with reduced wait times.
While previous autonomous vehicle (AV) trials by the Port Authority included tests at Newark Airport in New Jersey in 2023, the JFK pilot marks the first involving public participation. This initiative reflects New York City’s cautious approach to AV demonstrations, with previous public AV trials limited, such as the Optimus Ride shuttle service in 2019 on private roads in Brooklyn.
Leo Tsang, Port Authority transport planner, expressed optimism about the JFK pilot and autonomous technology, emphasizing its potential to augment public transit accessibility and flexibility. Tsang stated, “Autonomous vehicles offer significant enhancements to our existing transit systems, making them more inclusive for all.”
This JFK trial represents Ohmio’s second major deployment of autonomous shuttles at a busy international airport within months, following a similar initiative at Schipol Airport in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, announced in March.
