Japan Airlines will test humanoid robots for baggage work at Haneda

In short: Japan Airlines will start a multi-year trial in May 2026 to see if humanoid robots can help move luggage and cargo at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport.

What happened

Japan Airlines said it will test humanoid robots, robots shaped like people, as baggage handlers and cargo loaders at Haneda Airport in Tokyo. The airline says it is doing this because airports are short on workers while visitor numbers have risen.

The trial is scheduled to run until 2028. Japan Airlines said the robots could also be tested for other jobs later, including cleaning airplane cabins and possibly working with ground equipment like baggage carts.

The work will be run by JAL Ground Service, a Japan Airlines subsidiary, together with GMO AI & Robotics Corporation. Reports say the companies plan to test two robots, the G1 from Unitree Robotics and the Walker E from UBTECH Robotics.

Humanoid robots can be harder to use than simple factory robots because airports are busy and less predictable. In a demonstration video described by Ars Technica, a robot appears to push a cargo container, but the container only moves once a human starts the conveyor belt (like a moving walkway for cargo).

Why it matters

If the trial works, travelers could see more robots doing behind-the-scenes airport jobs that help flights leave on time. But airports will also need to prove the robots can work safely around people, especially at Haneda, where flights arrive about every two minutes.

Source: Arstechnica