Japan Deploys Humanoid Robots at Tokyo's Busiest Airport

Japan is deploying humanoid robots to address a dual crisis of surging tourism and chronic labour shortages, with Japan Airlines set to introduce Chinese-made robots at Tokyo's Haneda Airport from May. The Unitree-manufactured humanoids, measuring 130cm tall, will transport luggage and cargo on the tarmac of the world's busiest airport, which handles more than 60 million passengers annually. The trial programme, running until 2028 in partnership with Japan Airlines GMO Internet Group, aims to reduce the burden on overstretched human workers while maintaining safety-critical tasks for staff. The initiative comes as Japan struggles with record-breaking inbound tourism, having welcomed 42.7 million visitors last year and more than 7 million in the first two months of 2026, despite tensions with Beijing affecting Chinese arrivals. The country simultaneously faces an ageing, declining population, with estimates suggesting Japan will need more than 6.5 million foreign workers by 2040 to sustain economic growth. In a media demonstration, the robots were shown pushing cargo on to conveyor belts and interacting with workers, with capabilities including two to three hours of continuous operation before requiring recharges, plus potential future applications such as aircraft cabin cleaning. Separately, Toyota is developing "Woven City," an experimental settlement near Mount Fuji designed as a large-scale testbed for robotics, artificial intelligence, and autonomous transport. The site, spanning approximately 47,000 square metres with about 100 current residents, uses underground passageways for logistics and above-ground testing for AI safety systems and simulated flying taxis. Once complete, the city will expand to around 294,000 square metres at an estimated cost of $10 billion, housing up to 2,000 residents who participate directly in testing prototype technologies. Experts note that Japan's regulatory environment makes public road testing difficult, making controlled environments like Woven City particularly valuable for proving new systems before wider rollout.