JAL and Toyota Industries to expand autonomous driving tests at Haneda Airport

Japan Airlines (JAL) and Toyota Industries Corporation will begin testing expanded routes for Level 4 autonomous driving at Haneda Airport starting in November 2026. The verification process will utilize autonomous towing tractors manufactured by Toyota Industries.

While JAL has already begun implementing Level 4 autonomous towing tractors at Haneda Airport using common infrastructure provided by the Civil Aviation Bureau, the new testing phase will focus on more challenging routes, including tunnel sections. These routes present significantly different driving environments and operational conditions compared to current paths.

The collaboration aims to identify technical challenges associated with autonomous transport in specialized conditions and to refine integration with the Civil Aviation Bureau’s infrastructure. Through these efforts, the companies intend to improve efficiency and reduce labor requirements in ground handling operations while lowering environmental impact through the use of electric vehicles. The long-term goal is to expand the application of this technology to various environments and potentially deploy it to airports nationwide.