May 1, 2026
The robotic workforce is headed to the tarmac.
Japan Airlines has announced (1) a partnership with a Japanese robotics company which it hopes will result in humanoid robots handling luggage and cargo. The carrier will launch a trial in May, but added it doesn't plan to have the machines putting their robo-hands on actual customer bags immediately.
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Initially, the airline plans to map and analyze airport conditions, finding the areas where the robots can work safely alongside humans. Once that's completed, the robots will test their baggage handling skills in simulated airport environments. If all goes well, they'll then join human workers in real-world operations.
The test is currently slated to be implemented through 2028 and will only take place at the Haneda Airport in Tokyo,
Beyond baggage
Non-humanoid robots, like those found on factory floors, have been unable to adapt to the infrastructure and workflow of an airport environment. JAL hopes humanoid robots have a range of motion (and adaptable nature) that will allow them to do so.
Baggage handling is the first task they'll tackle, but the airline made it clear that it sees several other opportunities for the robo-workforce.
"In the future, these robots are expected to be used across a wide range of tasks, from loading baggage to cabin cleaning, and even operating [ground support equipment]," JAL said in a statement. "By combining cutting-edge AI technology with the unique flexibility of humanoid forms, the project aims to realize a sustainable operational structure through labor savings and workload reduction."
That language, normally, might seem ominous to workers about their job security, but don't look for any robot-driven layoffs in this instance. Like many carriers, JAL has struggled to fill ground handling openings. It's a job that, while it might seem basic, requires highly-skilled workers and can come with "significant physical burdens." And in a country with an aging population and a low birth rate, leaning into robotics could prove beneficial.
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Employment concerns
Despite the situation in Japan, many workers in physical jobs are still concerned about the impact of robotics on their jobs. A report earlier this year from Oxford Economics (2) estimated robots and automation could replace 20% of human jobs within 20 years – with transportation and logistics among the most at risk. (Some 60% of the jobs in those fields will be impacted, the investment advisory firm reported.)
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While airlines often follow each other's moves, no North American carriers have announced plans to integrate robots into their ground crew workforce.
That's not to say other industries have held off, though. White Castle has been quietly adding robots (3) to its staff at a number of locations across the country for the past several years. Eventually, the company says, it plans to have robots, called Flippy, in one-third of its stores.
Meanwhile, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, earlier this year, said he expected robots to have human-level capabilities sometime this year. But even he admits getting the robots to handle some bags could be tricky, since current robotics often lack a deft touch.
"Fine motor skills [are] extremely hard – and the reason for that is building a hand is hard," he said at CES in January. "The motor technology is hard. We don't just use our eyes. We also use touch. And the robot only has eyes, so it needs to have touch. So those fine motor skills are hard to develop, but we're developing technology in that area and I know the rest of the industry is as well."
Article Sources
We rely only on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For details, see our ethics and guidelines.
Japan Airlines (1); CBS News (2); Miso Robotics (3)
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Chris Morris is a veteran journalist with more than 35 years of experience at many of the internet's biggest news outlets. In addition to his activities as a writer, reporter and editor, Chris is also a frequent panel moderator and speaker at major conferences, including CES and South by Southwest.
