Humanoid robots join Tokyo airport ground crew in 2-year trial
Humanoid robots join Tokyo airport ground crew in 2-year trial
Japan Airlines will test humanoid ground-handling robots at Tokyo's Haneda airport to ease workloads amid labor shortages, with cargo handling start planned for May.
Japan Airlines will start a two-year trial using humanoid robots to assist ground handling at Tokyo's Haneda airport, beginning in May. The Chinese-made machines will be deployed to load and unload cargo containers, a move aimed at easing a labor crunch as inbound tourism grows and the working-age population declines.
The project is a joint effort with GMO AI & Robotics, the partner company behind the demonstrations shown to reporters. Officials say the robots could eventually handle cabin cleaning and operate some ground support equipment, though human oversight remains essential for safety-critical tasks.
A large portion of Japan's aviation sector still relies on human labor, with JAL employing around 4,000 ground-handling staff. The industry has faced shortages as visitors return and travel rebounds; Japan welcomed more than seven million foreign visitors in the first two months of the year, underscoring the demand growth.
In Japan, robots are already used in other airports for security patrols and retail tasks, but this marks a deeper step into routine cargo handling. While automation offers benefits like reducing heavy lifting, some duties, including safety management, still require human judgment.
If successful, the initiative could shape how airports balance automation with human labor, potentially expanding to additional tasks in the coming years.
