Japan · CNBC Technology
Japan Airlines begins humanoid robot trials at Tokyo's Haneda airport as labor shortages bite
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Japan Airlines began testing humanoid robots for ground operations at Tokyo's Haneda Airport amid chronic labor shortages.
Key facts
- In March, the Hangzhou-based Unitree became the first such firm to receive approval for its IPO application and is planning to raise roughly 4.2 billion yuan ($614 million), according to a Shanghai
- Japan's working-age population is projected to decline by 31% from 2023 to 2060, according to an employment outlook by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
- Shares of Japan Airlines rose 3.4% in the first trading day of May, but were trading around 13% lower so far this year
- Data from Japan's National Tourism Organization showed international arrivals rose 3.5% in March from a year earlier, increasing pressure on airport operations
Summary
The airline is partnering with GMO AI & Robotics to trial robots for tasks such as baggage loading and cabin cleaning starting in May, according to a joint statement Monday. The initiative comes as Japan's aviation sector struggles with rising tourism demand and a shrinking workforce, driven by an aging population. Japan Airlines said the humanoid robots are expected to be deployed progressively across Haneda Airport, with the trial lasting for two years. In a video demonstration of the technology, a humanoid robot produced by China's Unitree can be seen sliding a payload across a conveyor belt, waving to onlookers, and shaking a coworker's hand.