Take a Ride in a Self-Driving Car at JFK Airport

If you are traveling through JFK in the near future, you can hop on a self-driving shuttle to get to your car. Today, the Port Authority will allow the public to be part of a three-month initiative to test autonomous vehicles at John F. Kennedy International (JFK) in long-term parking Lot 9. The route of the driverless shuttles will include fifteen stops around the perimeter of the lot. These stops will help travelers get closer to their parked cars and AirTrain stations at Leffert Blvd. and Howard Beach.

The compact and efficient shuttles were designed by New Zealand manufacturer Ohmio, a company that provided self-driving bus services at the Schipol airport in Amsterdam. Two cars will circle the JFK parking lot. Each has a capacity of eight passengers. Passengers can hop on and ride for free.

In addition to being equipped with cameras, sensors, and GPS features, each shuttle will have a human safety monitor. The safety monitor will help passengers embark and disembark the cars and provide peace of mind for riders who may be a bit apprehensive about traveling without a driver. The Port Authority is committed to ensuring that implementing this technology will not come at the expense of its unionized employees. Safety monitors working on the self-driving cars are employees who currently serve as JFK airport shuttle bus drivers contracted through ABM Aviation Inc.

The journey to implement autonomous vehicles in New York has been a long and winding road. But this path has gained traction since the pandemic. Mayor Adams partnered with the Department of Transportation in 2023 to determine the criteria for permits to test-drive autonomous vehicles. That same year, JFK became the first North American airport to debut a platoon of self-driving vehicles. This platoon of shuttles moved in unison to maximize the capacity of its network. Untapped New York’s founder Michelle Young got to join one of the test rides and says it was smooth and fun! The latest program opening to the public today is the fourth in a series of Port Authority trial runs, two of which took place in JFK’s Aqueduct Parking Lot and another in “mixed traffic” at Newark’s International Airport.

Airports provide fertile, controlled testing grounds for experimenting with new technologies. “We are preparing today for the future by moving forward with our tests of self-driving technology within safe, controlled environments such as our airports, which also happen to be the exact facilities where we want to put this technology into use,” said Port Authority chairman Kevin O’ Toole.

What do these projects suggest about the future state of autonomous vehicles in New York? These projects will inevitably require partnering with global manufacturers like Ohmio, many of whom will need to adapt their operations to comply with the state of New York’s requirements. The Port Authority is committed to creating an interconnected transit network, with all its self-driving vehicles operating on the same wavelength to ensure safety and efficiency. This three-month test will reveal whether this latest batch of autonomous vehicles can support a sprawling airport like JFK. Moreover, it will allow travelers to become acclimated to the future of autonomous travel.

Next, check out Secrets of JFK Airport