San José Mineta International Airport (SJC) has confirmed that Waymo has been granted a permit to operate autonomous vehicles on airport premises. The approval makes SJC the first commercial airport in California to authorise Waymo services.
The deployment will take place in stages. Initial testing will involve journeys with Waymo employees, followed by a phased public launch later in the year.
Mookie Patel, Director of Aviation at San José Mineta International Airport said:SJC couldn’t be happier that Waymo has received its official permit to operate here in San José, and we’re pleased that Waymo chose our Airport as only the second major airport in the world to offer its services to travellers. Waymo’s impending presence here speaks to the ease and simplicity of SJC’s design and layout and the local infrastructure that supports Waymo’s technology.
Once the service is available, passengers travelling through SJC will be able to book a vehicle using the Waymo app. Pick-up points will be located at the airport’s Ground Transportation Centres in Terminals A and B, with onward journeys offered within Waymo’s existing San Francisco Bay Area service area.
San José Mayor Matt Mahan said:It's the perfect time for Waymo’s autonomous vehicles to begin to roll into San José, the Capital of Silicon Valley. 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.
Waymo, which began in Silicon Valley, described the move as a step towards expanding its autonomous ride-hailing services across the Bay Area.
Annabel Chang, Head of U.S. State and Local Public Policy, Waymo, said:We look forward to offering fully autonomous rides at San José Mineta International Airport terminals in the future. Waymo was born in Silicon Valley, and our testing and eventual commercial deployment at the airport will help us offer a valuable service to travellers in San José and more of the Bay Area, as we help keep innovation on the move.
