Humanoid robots will support ground staff on a test basis starting in May.
Japan Airlines
An aging population is causing problems for Japan. Among other things, there is a lack of skilled ground staff at airports. The number of employees here fell significantly between March 2019 and September 2023, falling from 26,300 to 23,700. As a result, for example, flights had to be canceled at Tokyo’s Narita Airport, Japan’s hub for international connections.
A test at Haneda Airport, Tokyo’s other airport, is now intended to show to what extent humanoid robots can help solve the staff shortage. These will tentatively take on tasks such as cleaning aircraft cabins and loading and unloading cargo and luggage.
Japan tests, China builds
Leading the project is Japan Airlines, whose subsidiary JAL Ground Service will work with the Japanese robotics company GMO AI & Robotics Corporation. The humanoid robots G1 and Walker E, models from the Chinese companies Unitree Robotics and UBTECH Robotics respectively, will be tested.
