Arizona’s Phoenix Sky Harbor (PHX) is on track to be the first airport in the world to offer a Waymo rider-only autonomous vehicle service.
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport will become the first airport to offer travellers the chance to take a Waymo autonomous vehicle to and from the airport. Waymo (formerly the Google self-driving car project) is offering Trusted Tester participants the ability to take autonomous rides to and from downtown Phoenix and the airport with an autonomous specialist in the vehicle.
“Phoenix leads the nation in demonstrating autonomous vehicle technology, science, and safety,” said Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. “The future of travel is here, and the Waymo One service to Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport marks our city’s commitment to innovation and technological advancements that will impact the world.”
Trusted Testers will be able to travel 24 hours, seven days a week in Waymo’s fully electric Jaguar I-PACE equipped with the fifth generation Waymo Driver.
At present trips are offered with an autonomous specialist in the driver’s seat. In the future, the specialist will be removed from the vehicle and the ability to hail lifts will begin to open up to the general public.
Pick-ups and drop-offs take place at the 44th Street PHX Sky Train Station where travellers can hop on the free PHX Sky Train direct to the terminals. Trains arrive and depart every few minutes.
This new service comes two years after Waymo opened its fully autonomous commercial ride hail service, Waymo One, to the public in the East Valley of Phoenix and builds on the company’s partnership with the City of Phoenix, which includes providing rides to Trusted Testers in Downtown Phoenix since May.
Image: Phoenix Sky Harbor and Waymo
