Travelers At Austin Airport Can Now Hop On Driver-Less Shuttles

AUSTIN, TX — The Austin airport is getting into territory more familiar by The Jetsons. Travelers can now experience the latest in autonomous transportation technology as part of a new pilot program transporting them on driver-less shuttles, officials said Friday.

Now in a public testing phase at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, the Easy Mile EZ10 driverless shuttle is available to transport passengers going between the Barbara Jordan Terminal and the Rental Car Facility/Ground Transportation, officials said. Operating on the upper level of Garage 1, the electric, driverless and ADA-compliant vehicle represents another mobility alternative for transporting travelers on the airport’s campus, according to airport officials.

The shuttle’s current route will take passengers from the terminal to the front of the Rental Car Facility/Ground Transportation, which is also the location for the airport’s ground transportation pick-up area for taxis and ride-app services. Other route options may potentially be explored in further testing.

The shuttle seats six with additional room for standing passengers and has a built-in automated electric access ramp for wheelchair accessibility. While the vehicle itself operates autonomously, an AUS attendant is present to assist travelers and for safety purposes during this pilot program.

Adding a green energy, mobility solution to the airport benefits both travelers and the environment and is just one of the steps AUS is taking to meet the City of Austin’s Strategic Direction 2023 Health & Environment outcome, officials added.

Now if we could only get behind the wheel of a flying car. We were made vague promises of flying cars. But driver-less shuttles are pretty nifty too — eliminating the need for a gratuity or small talk.