Waymo One riders can now relish the ease of curbside robotaxi pickups and drop-offs at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport
Waymo In a groundbreaking move back in November 2022, Waymo secured its place as the first U.S. autonomous vehicle operator to introduce a paid robotaxi service to and from the airport.
Previously confined to an airport shuttle stop at the 44th Street Sky Train station, Waymo is now stepping up to the challenge of navigating the bustling terminal curbs. The company is rolling out this new curbside service during limited hours, specifically from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., exclusively at Terminals 3 and 4. This phased approach allows Waymo to deploy and learn in a controlled, strategic manner.
With a track record of “tens of thousands of airport trips to date,” Waymo boasts of delivering over a thousand rides each week, earning an impressive average trip rating of 4.7 out of 5 stars for its airport endeavors.
In a noteworthy development, Waymo’s new curbside airport service is entirely autonomous, eliminating the need for a human safety operator behind the wheel. This advanced service is currently available to an exclusive group of active riders in Phoenix, expanding beyond the former trusted testers group. Waymo has eliminated the nondisclosure agreement (NDA) requirement for all riders this year.
Chris Bonelli, Waymo’s Product Communications Manager, emphasized the company’s aim to open these curbside pickup locations to all riders and expand to a 24/7 service in the forthcoming months, capitalizing on the experience gained at the terminals.
Expressing excitement about the partnership with Waymo, Chad Makovsky, the Aviation Director at Sky Harbor Airport, highlighted their confidence in the technology. He stated, “Last year, we joined forces with Waymo, becoming the first airport globally to offer travelers the ability to take an autonomous vehicle to the airport. This collaboration has fostered confidence in the technology, and we eagerly anticipate taking the next step to safely expand this innovative service to our terminal curbs.”
