Japan Airlines tests humanoid robots for baggage handling at Tokyo airport

International

Pilot project at Haneda aims to address labour shortages and boost efficiency

Japan Airlines will begin testing humanoid robots for baggage handling at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport as part of a pilot project to modernise ground operations. The trial, conducted in cooperation with GMO Internet Group, is scheduled to run through 2028 and reflects growing pressure on airport services amid rising travel demand.

Response to staffing shortages

The initiative comes as Japan’s aviation sector faces increasing workforce constraints, driven in part by demographic change and a shortage of personnel in physically demanding roles. By introducing robotics into luggage handling, the companies aim to reduce the burden on employees while maintaining operational standards.

“This is expected to ease the workload on staff, particularly in physically demanding tasks,” said Yoshiteru Suzuki, noting that critical functions such as safety management will remain under human supervision.

Automation meets manual operations

Although airports are often perceived as highly automated, many processes behind the scenes still rely heavily on manual labour. Tomohiro Uchida emphasised that these areas are particularly affected by staffing shortages and could benefit from the targeted use of robotics.

The trial will be carried out by JAL Ground Service in collaboration with GMO AI & Robotics, which specialises in artificial intelligence and robotic systems.

Further applications under consideration

Beyond baggage handling, the partners are exploring additional use cases, including aircraft cabin cleaning, in future project phases. The robots deployed in the trial are manufactured in China and can currently operate continuously for two to three hours, marking an early step toward broader integration of humanoid systems in airport operations.