Japan Airlines plans to deploy humanoid robots for sorting luggage and loading cargo at Tokyo's Haneda Airport starting in May 2026. The three-year trial addresses a severe labor shortage amid rising passenger numbers. Partnering with GMO AI & Robotics, the airline will test models from Chinese firms Unitree and UBTECH.
Japan Airlines announced a pilot program at Haneda Airport, Japan's second-busiest hub with flights landing every two minutes. Through its subsidiary JAL Ground Service and partner GMO AI & Robotics Corporation, the airline will evaluate humanoid robots for tasks like baggage sorting, cargo loading, aircraft cabin cleaning, and operating baggage carts. The demonstration, detailed in a company press release, runs through 2028 and seeks robots adaptable to dynamic airport environments without major infrastructure changes. Japan Airlines aims to leverage advanced AI to integrate robots alongside human workers seamlessly. The trial features the G1 robot from Unitree Robotics, priced at $13,500 for the base model, and the Walker E from UBTECH Robotics, as noted by The Asia Business Daily. A demonstration video showed a robot making a pushing motion toward a cargo container, though a human activated the conveyor belt to move it. Safety assessments will identify suitable airport zones for initial deployment, given the close human-robot interactions. Japan's airports face acute staffing shortages; for instance, Narita Airport in December 2023 handled fewer than 70% of requested flights due to missing ground crew, per The Mainichi. Nationwide, ground crew numbers dropped from 26,300 in March 2019 to 23,700 by September 2023, according to government data.