Japan Airlines tests humanoid robots for baggage handling at Tokyo airport amid labor shortage

Japan Airlines Deploys Humanoid Robots at Haneda Airport to Address Workforce Crisis

Japan Airlines has initiated a groundbreaking trial at Tokyo's Haneda Airport, deploying humanoid robots for baggage handling and other ground handling tasks in response to an intensifying labor shortage 1

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. The demonstration, launched in May 2026, represents a significant shift in how the aviation industry labor crunch might be addressed through automation 2

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. The airline's subsidiary, JAL Ground Service, has partnered with GMO AI & Robotics Corporation to oversee this ambitious experiment, which is scheduled to run until 2028 1

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The trial will test humanoid robots from Chinese manufacturers, including the G1 robot from Unitree Robotics and the Walker E robot from UBTECH Robotics 1

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. The Unitree G1 robot costs as low as $13,500 for the baseline model, making it one of the more affordable options despite humanoid robots typically costing tens of thousands of dollars per unit 1

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. At a demonstration this week, a 4-foot-3-inch tall android was shown nudging cargo containers onto a conveyor belt and interacting with human coworkers through gestures like waving and handshaking 3

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Testing Humanoid Robots for Baggage Handling Amid Declining Workforce

Japan's declining working-age population has created unprecedented workforce challenges across multiple sectors. Japanese government data revealed that ground crew numbers across Japan fell from 26,300 to 23,700 between March 2019 and September 2023 1

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. The situation became critical when Tokyo's Narita Airport reportedly could not respond to more than 30 percent of requested flights each week in December 2023 due to staff shortages involving cargo handlers and other ground crew 1

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Japan's working-age population is projected to decline by 31% from 2023 to 2060, according to an employment outlook by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development 2

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. This demographic reality, combined with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's support base premised on tougher immigration policies, creates conditions where the government is expected to "very much encourage the deployment of humanoids in Japan," according to Marc Einstein, research director from Counter Research 2

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Phased Implementation and Safety Considerations for Ground Support Equipment

The trial at Tokyo's Haneda Airport will roll out in several carefully planned phases to ensure humanoid robot baggage carriers can work safely alongside humans 3

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. The first step involves mapping and analyzing airport conditions to identify areas where robots can operate without compromising safety management protocols 1

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. Subsequently, the robots will undergo test runs in simulated airport environments before joining human workers on the tarmac for live operations 3

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Japan Airlines is interested in testing whether humanoid robots powered by AI models can adapt to human work environments without requiring dedicated work stations or significant workplace modifications 1

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. The robots are expected to be deployed progressively across Haneda Airport, with full deployment targeted by 2028 2

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. Each unit can operate for two to three hours per charge before needing a recharge 5

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Expanding Applications Beyond Cargo Containers to Cabin Cleaning

While the initial focus centers on loading and unloading cargo containers, Japan Airlines envisions a broader role for these machines 4

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. The demonstration could eventually test humanoid robots in a wide range of airport tasks, including cabin cleaning aircraft cabins and possibly handling ground support equipment such as baggage carts 1

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. "While airports appear highly automated and standardized, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labour and face serious labor shortages," explained Tomohiro Uchida, president of GMO AI & Robotics 5

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Yoshiteru Suzuki, president of JAL's Ground Service, told reporters that using robots for physically demanding tasks will "provide significant benefits to employees" by reducing their workload 4

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. However, he acknowledged that some duties, including safety management, can only be handled by humans 4

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Physical AI Industry Growth and Rising Inbound Tourism Pressures

The timing of this trial aligns with surging operational demands at Haneda Airport, Japan's second-largest airport where flights arrive approximately every two minutes 1

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. Data from Japan's National Tourism Organization showed international arrivals rose 3.5% in March from a year earlier, increasing pressure on airport operations 2

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. Japan welcomed more than seven million foreign visitors in the first two months of this year, intensifying the strain on inbound tourism infrastructure 4

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Barclays described physical AI as the "next frontier" in AI development, estimating the physical AI industry—presently valued at $2 billion to $3 billion—could grow to as much as $1.4 trillion by 2035 2

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. Physical AI refers to systems that combine AI software with machines capable of performing real-world physical tasks, from robotics to driverless cars 2

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Capabilities and Limitations of Current Robotics Firms' Technologies

In China, robotics firms such as Unitree, Agibot (also known as Zhiyuan Robotics), and Galbot are advancing affordable humanoid development and exploring initial public offerings to fund their expansion plans 2

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. In March, the Hangzhou-based Unitree became the first such firm to receive approval for its IPO application, planning to raise roughly 4.2 billion yuan ($614 million) 2

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Despite rapid technological progress, analysts caution that humanoid robots still face significant limitations. "These robots, they're just not very smart yet," Einstein said, noting that the programming and reasoning involved in humanoid technologies remain largely underdeveloped 2

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. The deployment of these humanoid robots will likely still require human oversight, even as they take on essential yet often physically demanding roles in manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and hospitality 2

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. However, given the pace at which firms have developed these technologies, Counterpoint estimates that larger-scale deployment should be no longer than five years away 2

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