Japan Airlines (JAL) will begin a two-year trial of humanoid robots for ground handling at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport starting in May, aiming to reduce staff workload.
Initially, the Chinese-made robots will handle loading and unloading cargo containers, JAL and its partner GMO AI & Robotics announced during a media demonstration.
Aviation sector strained by labor shortages amid tourism surge
The move comes as Japan’s aviation sector faces labor shortages due to rising tourism and a shrinking workforce. JAL currently employs around 4,000 ground staff.
In the future, the airline hopes the robots could also assist with cabin cleaning and operating ground support equipment.
Robots are already in use at some Japanese airports for tasks like security patrols and retail.
According to JTB Group, Japan recorded over seven million foreign visitors in the first two months of the year.
Automation gaps persist as robots aim to ease workforce strain
GMO AI & Robotics president Tomohiro Uchida noted that while airports seem highly automated, many behind-the-scenes operations still depend heavily on human labor. JAL Ground Service president Yoshiteru Suzuki added that using robots for physically demanding work could bring significant benefits to employees.
However, he pointed out that certain tasks, such as safety management, must remain the responsibility of humans.
Read the original article on: bbc
Read more:Toyota’s CUE7 robot uses advanced vision and control for precise shots