Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport has a new driverless ride, and this one never leaves the parking lot. The City of Phoenix announced that Ohmio Automotion is introducing an autonomous shuttle service inside the airport's East Economy Parking facility, with the company having begun testing a driverless shuttle bus back in July.
According to a post from the City of Phoenix, AZ
, the shuttle is running on a six-month trial, operating exclusively within East Economy Parking from 7 to 11 a.m. and again from 1 to 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. The city, which describes its account as the official page for Phoenix and also shares Spanish-language updates via @ciudaddephoenix, posted the news on October 8; the Phoenix Sky Harbor account's post was dated October 6. The pilot arrives as Phoenix, the fifth-largest city in the country, continues building out its reputation as a hub for automated transit.
Details on the operating partnership emerged earlier, when the Daily Independent reported that the trial was structured between airport parking concessionaire Ace Parking and Ohmio, with an onboard safety attendant assigned during initial testing. Sky Harbor officials reportedly presented the partnership to the Phoenix Aviation subcommittee before the public rollout, per the same outlet's reporting.
Ohmio's Sky Harbor Pilot
Ohmio is introducing an autonomous shuttle service at Sky Harbor's East Economy Parking facility.
The pilot is confined to East Economy Parking, keeping the shuttle's operation within a single airport lot rather than extending across the airport.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego has tried a shuttle and described airport testing. At East Economy, an onboard safety attendant is assigned during initial testing, according to the Daily Independent.
An Autonomous Shuttle for East Economy Parking
The Ohmio shuttle is being tested in East Economy Parking as part of the six-month trial.
The trial is confined to East Economy Parking, keeping the autonomous shuttle's operation within a single airport lot rather than extending across the airport.
Easing Pressure on a Record-Busy Airport
The timing isn't incidental. Sky Harbor served a record 48.7 million passengers in 2023, according to the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport aviation department, creating heavy operational demand across the airport's ground transit networks. Other circulator shuttles serve East Economy lot users traveling to the free, automated PHX Sky Train, which runs 24/7 every three to seven minutes and connects to Terminals 3 and 4, the 24th Street economy lot, and the Valley Metro light rail system, according to Valley Metro transit documentation.
East Economy Parking is the site of the Ohmio shuttle trial, which is operating within the lot.
Sky Harbor has also seen Waymo service expansions. In 2023, the airport announced evening Waymo pickups at terminal curbs. Waymo service in Phoenix has also been covered by Hoodline.
