JAL to Test Humanoid Robots at Haneda for Baggage in 2026

Japan Airlines and its partners will begin testing humanoid robots at Tokyo's Haneda Airport in May 2026 to assist with baggage and cargo handling on the tarmac, aiming to ease a severe labor shortage amid surging tourism.

The trial, running through 2028, involves JAL Ground Service Co. and GMO AI Robotics Corp., a subsidiary of GMO Internet Group. The robots, developed by China's Unitree Robotics, stand about 130 centimeters tall and feature sensors including 3D LiDAR and depth cameras for navigating complex airport environments and interacting with human workers. In a recent demonstration, one model pushed cargo onto a conveyor belt next to a Japan Airlines aircraft and gestured to nearby staff. The machines can operate for two to three hours per charge.

The initiative addresses mounting pressures on Japan's aviation sector. Haneda handles more than 60 million passengers annually, while the country saw a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025 and over 7 million in the first two months of 2026, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization. At the same time, an aging population and shrinking working-age workforce have intensified shortages for physically...