US EditionJapan Airlines trials humanoid robots as ground handlers
The two-year trial will test Chinese-made robots for luggage and cargo work as JAL seeks to ease labor shortages and reduce workers’ burden.
- On Monday, Japan Airlines and GMO AI & Robotics announced a two-year trial at Tokyo's Haneda airport starting in May, deploying humanoid robots for ground handling tasks like moving cargo containers.
- Japan's aviation sector faces significant staffing pressure due to an increase in inbound tourism coupled with a declining working-age population, struggling to fill roles for its 4,000 ground handling staff.
- GMO President Tomohiro Uchida stated, "While airports appear highly automated and standardized, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labor and face serious labor shortages." The 130cm-tall Chinese-made robots operate within existing facility layouts.
- JAL Ground Service President Yoshiteru Suzuki said replacing physically demanding tasks with robots "is likely to inevitably reduce workers' burden, providing significant benefits to employees," though safety management will remain human-led.
17 Articles
17 Articles
Humanoid Robots Are Being Tested as Baggage Handlers at Airport in Japan
On Monday, April 27, Japan Airlines and GMO AI & Robotics announced a partnership to have humanoid robots working at Tokyo's Haneda airport from May for a two-year trial period. The announcement came amid Japan's increase in inbound tourism and decline in workforce due to its aging population
Japan Airlines to deploy humanoid robots for ground handling: Are machines replacing humans?
Japan Airlines will begin using humanoid robots for ground handling tasks at Tokyo's Haneda Airport starting next month , as part of a two-year trial.The made-in-China robots will initially be used to load and unload cargo containers....
Humanoid robots start sorting luggage in Tokyo airport test amid labor shortage
Humanoid robots are getting a new gig as baggage handlers and cargo loaders at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport—part of a Japan Airlines experiment to address a human labor shortage as airport visitor numbers have surged in recent years. The demonstration, set to launch in May 2026, could eventually test humanoid robots in a wide range of airport tasks, including cleaning aircraft cabins and possibly handling ground support equipment such as baggage carts…
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