Japan Airlines (JAL) has announced plans to introduce humanoid robots into ground handling operations at Haneda Airport as part of a two-year pilot programme aimed at reducing pressure on airport workers.
Beginning in May, the Chinese-made robots will initially be used to load and unload cargo containers, according to JAL and its technology partner, GMO AI & Robotics, during a media demonstration held on Monday.
The initiative comes as Japan’s aviation industry faces growing labour shortages driven by a rise in international tourism and the country’s shrinking working-age population. JAL currently employs around 4,000 ground handling personnel.
The airline said it hopes the robots could eventually be expanded into other operational areas, including aircraft cabin cleaning and operating ground support equipment.
Robots are already being used in several airports across Japan for tasks such as security patrols and retail services.
According to travel data, Japan welcomed more than seven million foreign visitors during the first two months of the year, increasing pressure on airport operations and staffing demands.
Tomohiro Uchida noted that while airports appear highly automated, many behind-the-scenes operations still depend heavily on manual labour.
Meanwhile, Yoshiteru Suzuki said the use of robots for physically demanding work could provide major benefits to employees, although he acknowledged that certain responsibilities, particularly safety management, would still require human oversight.
Source: citinews
