LAS VEGAS - Waymo began carrying passengers in cars with no one behind the wheel to and from Harry Reid International Airport on Wednesday, adding one of the busiest airports in the United States to a Las Vegas service the company opened to the public only last month.
For now, airport trips are open only to people who already ride with Waymo in Las Vegas, and the company said it would admit more riders over time before opening the service to everyone. Pickups and drop-offs take place at dedicated autonomous vehicle zones on the Ground Zero Level of Terminal 1 and Terminal 3, according to Waymo and the airport.
Riders can travel between the airport and any destination inside Waymo's 24-square-mile service area in the city, which the company said it plans to widen. Waymo began gradually admitting riders in Las Vegas on Sept. 14, according to its help center.
"We serve millions of passengers every year, and as new technologies continue to evolve, we're always looking for ways to bring new options and added convenience to our travelers," James C. Chrisley, Clark County's director of aviation, said in a statement. "Welcoming Waymo is another step toward giving our passengers more choices in how they get to and from the airport."
Arica Gately, Waymo's head of airport business development and partnerships, said in the company's announcement that the rides offered "a seamless, stress-free way for travelers to catch a flight or hit the town."
Las Vegas is the sixth major airport Waymo serves, TechCrunch reported, after Phoenix Sky Harbor, Nashville International, San Antonio International, San Francisco International and San Jose International. Waymo began serving the Nashville airport on Oct. 13, according to its help center.
The company will not have the airport to itself. Zoox, the robotaxi company owned by Amazon, already offers rides at the Las Vegas airport, and Nevada regulators in August approved permits that will allow Tesla and Uber to put thousands of robotaxis on the city's streets over the next year, TechCrunch reported.
Waymo has also signed on as the official ride-hailing partner of the Las Vegas Raiders and Allegiant Stadium and of The Venetian Resort, the company said, as it builds its presence in a city whose economy runs on visitors.
