Japan Airlines will test the capabilities of humanoid robots in a new trial, the first of its kind in Japan.
In partnership with GMO AI & Robotics Trading, the carrier will explore how the robots could load baggage, move cargo, and clear aircraft cabins at Tokyo Haneda airport. Simulated scenarios will test efficiency and real-world deployment, with the project running until 2028.
These Chinese-made robots can work for two to three hours. Japan is grappling with higher volumes of tourists than ever, welcoming a record 42.7 million international visitors in 2025. At the same time, the country faces a demographic crisis due to an aging population. Japan Airlines handles around 60 million passengers annually, and the robot workers could go some way to boosting efficiency while covering critical workforce gaps. GMO AI & Robotics Corp President Tomohiro Uchida noted:
While airports appear highly automated and standardized, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labour and face serious labour shortages.
The trial will begin in May 2026. A spokesperson from Japan Airlines said:
By combining cutting-edge AI technology with the unique flexibility of humanoid forms, the project aims to realize a sustainable operational structure through labour savings and workload reduction.
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