Waymo receives permit to operate at SJC; public ride availability expected later this year
September 4, 2025
Media Contact:
SJC Media | (408) 392-1199 | sjcmedia@sjc.org
San Josจฆ, Calif. กช San Josจฆ Mineta International Airport (SJC) is pleased to announce that Waymo, the worldกฏs leading fully autonomous ride-hailing company, has received authorization to operate commercially on Airport premises, the first step in Waymoกฏs planned deployment in San Josจฆ. Rollout will happen in stages, beginning with fully-autonomous testing with Waymo employees, followed by a commercial launch for the public later this year.
SJC is expected to be the first commercial, international airport in California กช and the second in the world กช to welcome Waymo to its terminals, making the Bay Areaกฏs easiest and most dependable Airport even more convenient for travelers.
Upon future commercial launch, passengers traveling through the official Airport of Silicon Valley will be able to hail a Waymo autonomous vehicle via the Waymo app upon landing. The vehicle will arrive at one of SJCกฏs two Ground Transportation Centers กช in Terminal A or B กช to dispatch the passenger to the destination of their choice within the San Francisco Bay Area service area.
“It’s the perfect time for Waymoกฏs autonomous vehicles to begin to roll into San Josจฆ, the Capital of Silicon Valley,” said San Josจฆ Mayor Matt Mahan. “For decades, our region has shaped the future กช and Waymo embodies our regionกฏs spirit of innovation. With San Josจฆ 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.กฑ
กฐI am thrilled Waymo will offer passengers a new innovative option in how passengers travel to and from the San Josจฆ Mineta International Airport,กฑ said San Josจฆ City Manager Jennifer Maguire. กฐWaymo provides the same dependability and convenience travelers have come to expect at SJC, all while leaving a lasting impression to travelers that highlights the spirit of innovation that defines our region.กฑ
กฐSJC couldnกฏt be happier that Waymo has received its official permit to operate here in San Josจฆ, and weกฏre pleased that Waymo chose our Airport as only the second major airport in the world to offer its services to travelers,กฑ said Mookie Patel, Director of Aviation at San Josจฆ Mineta International Airport. กฐWaymoกฏs impending presence here speaks to the ease and simplicity of SJCกฏs design and layout and the local infrastructure that supports Waymoกฏs technology.กฑ
กฐWe look forward to offering fully autonomous rides at San Josจฆ Mineta International Airport terminals in the future,กฑ said Annabel Chang, Head of U.S. State and Local Public Policy, Waymo. กฐWaymo was born in Silicon Valley, and our testing and eventual commercial deployment at the airport will help us offer a valuable service to travelers in San Josจฆ and more of the Bay Area, as we help keep innovation on the move.กฑ
About the City of San Josจฆ
With almost 1 million residents, San Josจฆ is one of the most diverse large cities in the United States and is Northern Californiaกฏs largest city and the 12th largest city in the nation. San Josจฆกฏs transformation into a global innovation center has resulted in one of the largest concentrations of technology companies and expertise in the world.
About San Josจฆ Mineta International Airport (SJC): Fly Simple.
Fueled by a culture of innovation, San Josจฆ Mineta International Airport (SJC) is the Bay Area’s easiest and most dependable Airport due to its medium size, simple layout, temperate climate and location. SJC is located just minutes from downtown San Josจฆ จC the Bay Areaกฏs largest city and the Capital of Silicon Valley. SJC is a selfฉ\supporting enterprise owned and operated by the City of San Josจฆ. In 2024, while celebrating 75 years of connecting the Bay Area with the world, SJC welcomed nearly 12 million passengers and was rated Californiaกฏs top-performing airport for on-time departures by Cirium. SJC currently offers nonstop service to more than 40 domestic and international destinations. The Airportกฏs two fixed-base operators, as well as several corporate aviation tenants, serve the business aviation needs of Silicon Valley; corporate and general aviation traffic represents more than a quarter of aircraft operations at SJC. For more information and to connect with SJC on social media, visit flysanjose.com.
