Japan Airlines (JAL) is planning to start using humanoid robots for ground handling at Haneda Airport in Tokyo, as part of a two-year trial.
BBC News reports that the robots — made by China-based GMO AI & Robotics — will be used to load and unload cargo containers. In a demonstration to the media on April 27, JAL said that it also hopes to eventually use the robots to clean aircraft cabins and operate ground support equipment. The trial is scheduled to begin in May, and will run through 2028.
The push for humanoid robots comes in response to larger concerns over a labor shortage, stemming from a bump in inbound tourism and a dip in Japan’s working-age population. According to The Japan Times, the country could face a shortage of 11 million workers by 2040 at the current pace of its declining birthrates.
“While airports appear highly automated and standardized, their back-end operations still rely heavily on human labor, and face serious labor shortages,” said GMO AI & Robotics president Tomohiro Uchida.
A handful of airports in Japan already use robots for security patrols and retail, although JAL said that safety management duties should still only be handled by human workers. The airport also noted that it views humanoid robots as a way to ease the burden of existing employees.
