Japan Airlines to test baggage loading robot at Tokyo Haneda Airport

Japan Airlines has begun testing humanoid robots for ground operations at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport amid a chronic manpower shortage.

The airlines will partner with GMO AI & Robotics to pilot robots for tasks such as baggage loading and cabin cleaning starting in May, according to a joint statement on Monday.

The initiative comes as Japan’s aviation industry struggles with rising demand for tourism and a shrinking workforce due to an aging population.

Japan Airlines said the humanoid robots will be deployed in phases throughout Haneda Airport, and the trial is expected to last two years.

In a video demonstration of the technology, a humanoid robot built by China’s Unitree can be seen sliding a payload on a conveyor belt, waving to onlookers and shaking hands with colleagues.

shares of Japan Airlines It rose 3.4% on the first trading day of May, but has traded about 13% lower so far this year.

Unitree, one of China’s leading robotics companies, caused a stir when it debuted its flagship model, the H1, at a kung fu demonstration during the Chinese New Year celebrations in February.

However, it is unclear whether Unitree is directly involved in the Haneda Airport trial or whether it is part of a broader evaluation of commercially available humanoid technology. In response to questions from CNBC, Japan Airlines said a “feasibility study and risk assessment” is underway.

Unitree did not respond to CNBC’s request for comment.

Analysts say demographic trends such as rapidly aging populations and declining birth rates – typical of large cities like Tokyo – are driving demand for humanoid robots.

“Aging populations, labor shortages, and changing worker preferences are opening the door for humanoids to take on essential but undesirable roles in manufacturing, logistics, agriculture, healthcare, and hospitality,” Barclays said in a January research note.

Japan’s working-age population is projected to decline by 31% from 2023 to 2060, according to employment projections from the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development. Mark Einstein, research director at Counter Research, predicts that humanoid robots will play an increasingly important role in Japan’s workforce.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s support base is predicated on stricter immigration policies, and Einstein expects the government to “strongly encourage the deployment of humanoids in Japan.”

In March, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry released guidelines on the use of robotics and artificial intelligence to address workforce challenges, including a “shrinking workforce due to a declining birthrate and aging population.”

The number of overseas arrivals in March increased by 3.5% from the same month last year, putting pressure on airport operations, according to data from the Japan National Tourism Organization.

Einstein said the capabilities of humanoid robots have advanced significantly in recent years, with developments in joint dexterity and advances in AI software enabling them to perform tasks that they “would never have been able to do even a few years ago.”

Barclays said physical robotics is the “next frontier” in AI development as companies look to combine physical automation and artificial intelligence. In a February research report, the bank estimates that the physical AI industry, currently valued at $2 billion to $3 billion, could grow to $1.4 trillion by 2035.

Physical AI refers to systems that combine AI with machines that can perform real-world physical tasks, from robotics to self-driving cars.

In China, robotics companies such as Unitree, Agibot (also known as Zhiyuan Robotics), and Galbot are developing affordable humanoids and are considering initial public offerings to fund expansion plans and meet growing demand.

Hangzhou-based Unitree became the first company to receive approval for an IPO application in March and plans to raise about 4.2 billion yuan ($614 million), according to a filing with the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Despite rapid technological advances, it remains unclear whether humanoid robots can fully address Japan’s chronic labor shortage.

Analysts previously told CNBC that humanoids still lack the dexterity to perform more delicate tasks and precise movements.

Einstein said the programming and reasoning involved in humanoid technology remains largely undeveloped. Deploying these humanoid robots will likely still require human involvement, he added.

“These robots aren’t that smart yet,” Einstein said.

However, given the pace at which companies are developing these technologies, Counterpoint estimates that large-scale adoption should occur within five years.

—CNBC’s Evelyn Cheng contributed to this report.