The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey will test autonomous electric shuttle buses at Newark Liberty International Airport beginning this spring, according to agency officials.
Three companies will take turns testing their zero-emissions vehicles in a closed section of the airport starting in March, the Port Authority announced. Oceaneering, Ohmio and Glydways will each run their shuttles for approximately two weeks throughout the spring, with Oceaneering conducting the first tests.
“Autonomous vehicles are in use around the world and around the country, and they are part of the modern travel experience,” said Port Authority Executive Director Kathryn Garcia. “We are building a new Newark Liberty that meets the demands of the next generation of travel.”
The tests aim to help the agency determine how to connect Newark’s terminals with the airport’s planned new AirTrain system. The Port Authority is investing $3.5 billion to replace the current aging AirTrain, with the updated system scheduled to open in 2030, according to agency officials.
The autonomous shuttle pilot reflects Newark’s dramatic growth in passenger traffic. When the AirTrain first opened in 1996, Newark Liberty served approximately 30 million passengers annually, according to the Port Authority. By 2024, that number had grown to nearly 50 million passengers.
This marks the latest autonomous vehicle initiative for regional airports. During summer 2024, members of the public rode Ohmio’s self-driving shuttles at JFK Airport, where the vehicles transported passengers around a long-term parking lot, according to the Port Authority. Previous tests were also conducted in 2022 and 2023, while Newark launched its own driverless shuttle pilot programs in 2023 and 2024.
“We have been working with self-driving technology successfully for many years, particularly at the airports, and believe autonomous shuttles offer a safe, efficient solution for moving passengers while we concurrently work to build a new AirTrain Newark and the brand-new Terminal B,” said Port Authority Chair Kevin O’Toole.
The spring testing program will help inform whether the Port Authority issues a formal request for proposals in 2027, according to agency officials.
The autonomous vehicle tests come amid broader skepticism about self-driving technology in New York. Gov. Kathy Hochul blocked plans to allow companies like Waymo to test autonomous cars outside New York City, according to reports. A Siena Research poll released earlier this month found that self-driving cars remain deeply unpopular among New York residents.
The Port Authority’s focus on autonomous shuttles at Newark reflects the agency’s broader modernization efforts at the airport. The authority is simultaneously working on constructing a new Terminal B and replacing the AirTrain system as part of a comprehensive upgrade to handle increasing passenger volumes.
The closed-course testing approach allows the companies to demonstrate their technology without disrupting regular airport operations. Each company will have approximately two weeks to showcase their electric autonomous buses during the spring testing period.
The initiative represents part of the Port Authority’s strategy to integrate emerging transportation technologies into the region’s airport infrastructure while maintaining safety and efficiency standards for the millions of passengers who travel through Newark Liberty annually.
