Unitree G1 Humanoid Robot to Enter Tokyo Haneda Airport in May to Assist with Baggage and Cargo Handling

Japan Airlines (JAL) will deploy Unitree Technology's G1 humanoid robot at Haneda Airport starting in May to assist ground staff with baggage and cargo handling. During the media demo, the robot could move cargo to the aircraft conveyor belt and make gestures to staff, showing initial collaborative capabilities in real work scenarios.

JAL stated that using robots for physical labor can significantly reduce employee stress and improve working conditions, but key responsibilities like safety management remain in human hands. The pilot program is assisted by GMO Internet Group, which first trained the robot in a virtual environment using Nvidia Isaac Simulator, creating a digital twin to simulate the learning process, then migrated the data to the real robot to ensure smooth operation in the real world.

Additionally, Japan received over 7 million tourists in January-February 2026, and its aging population is worsening, leading to a labor shortage. By 2040, it may need over 6.5 million foreign workers to sustain economic growth, and robot applications are expected to help alleviate this gap.