Waymo Scales Airport Presence With Las Vegas Launch
AI-generated image · US National Wire
The expansion into high-traffic transit hubs signals a strategic move to demonstrate autonomous fleet unit economics ahead of potential exits.
Waymo has expanded its autonomous vehicle operations to include the Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas, as TechCrunch first reported. The company announced Wednesday that it has established dedicated "autonomous vehicle zones" for pickups and drop-offs at Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
This marks the sixth major airport Waymo has entered, following previous deployments at San Francisco International, San José International, San Antonio International, Nashville International, and Phoenix Sky Harbor. While Waymo only began public operations in Las Vegas in September, it currently serves a 24-square-mile area. The company noted that airport services will initially be limited to a small number of riders before becoming available to all customers.
Waymo enters a competitive Las Vegas market where Amazon-owned Zoox already provides airport services. Furthermore, TechCrunch reports that state regulators approved permits in August that will allow Uber and Tesla to deploy thousands of robotaxis in the city over the coming year.