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Japan Airlines to Trial Chinese Humanoid Robots for Aircraft Towing and Cabin Cleaning at Haneda

Japan Airlines will launch a two-year trial of humanoid robots for ground-handling tasks at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The trial runs from May 2026 through 2028 in partnership with GMO AI & Robotics and uses models from Unitree and UBTech. @SCMPNews reported the announcement made last week.

1 source·May 6, 11:34 AM(23 days ago)·1m read

Japan Airlines to Trial Chinese Humanoid Robots for Aircraft Towing and Cabin Cleaning at Haneda

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Japan Airlines is launching a two-year trial using humanoid robots for ground-handling operations at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport. The trial is conducted through a partnership with GMO AI & Robotics. @SCMPNews reported that the experiment is scheduled to begin this month and continue through 2028.

Tasks in the trial include aircraft towing, baggage and cargo loading and unloading, and cabin cleaning. The trial will use Unitree’s G1 humanoid robot and UBTech’s Walker E model, according to reports by Asia Business Daily and CNBC. Japan Airlines announced the trial last week.

Unitree is based in Hangzhou. UBTech is based in Shenzhen. 3 metres tall and weighs roughly 35 kg. The G1 is designed with agile movement capabilities suited to industrial operations and logistics handling.

Key Facts

Japan Airlines partners with GMO AI & Robotics for robot tri

Two-year trial at Haneda Airport starts May 2026 and runs through 2028

Unitree G1 robot specifications

1.3 metres tall, 35 kg, based in Hangzhou, designed for industrial and logistics tasks

UBTech Walker E robot specifications

1.72 metres tall, 73 kg, based in Shenzhen

Trial tasks defined

Aircraft towing, baggage and cargo loading and unloading, cabin cleaning

aviation robotics japan china

Story Timeline

3 events

last week
Japan Airlines announced the two-year robot trial at Haneda Airport
1 source@SCMPNews
May 2026
Trial begins at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport using Unitree G1 and UBTech Walker E robots
1 source@SCMPNews
through 2028
Trial continues with tasks including aircraft towing, baggage handling and cabin cleaning
1 source@SCMPNews

Potential Impact

01
Introduction of Chinese-made humanoid robots into Japanese airport operations
02
Potential expansion of humanoid robot use in aviation ground handling beyond the initial trial

Transparency Panel

Sources cross-referenced1

Confidence score70%

Synthesized bySubstrate AI

Word count122 words

PublishedMay 6, 2026, 11:34 AM

Bias signals removed2 across 2 outlets

Signal Breakdown

Loaded 2

Original Sources

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