Humanoid robots to become baggage handlers in Japan airport experiment
Summary
Japan Airlines will test humanoid robots to help handle luggage and cargo at Tokyo’s Haneda airport starting in May. The robots aim to reduce the workload on human staff amid a shortage of workers and rising tourist numbers.Key Facts
- Japan Airlines will start a trial using humanoid robots as baggage handlers in May 2026.
- The trial will run until 2028 and takes place at Haneda airport, which serves over 60 million passengers yearly.
- The robots are made by Chinese company Unitree and can push luggage and cargo on the tarmac.
- Robots need charging breaks every two to three hours but can reduce human physical labor.
- Key tasks like safety management will still be done by people.
- Japan faces labor shortages due to a shrinking, aging population and increased tourism.
- More than 7 million tourists arrived in Japan in early 2026, following a record 42.7 million visitors in 2025.
- Japan plans to use robots for other work at airports, like cleaning aircraft cabins.
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