Japan Airlines (JAL) and Toyota Industries will begin trials in November of a Toyota Industries autonomous towing tractor on expanded routes at Tokyo Haneda Airport. The tests will assess Level 4 driverless operation, including sections through tunnels, where operating conditions differ from those on routes already in use. The companies will also examine requirements for coordinating with shared infrastructure being developed by Japan’s Civil Aviation Bureau (JCAB). The trial duration and routes have not been specified.
JAL began commercial Level 4 autonomous towing at Haneda on 15 December 2025, using JCAB-installed infrastructure including signals and cameras. The new trials build on that operation and Toyota Industries’ experience at the airport, but will test the system in more varied conditions.
The companies are assessing the operational challenges of driverless transport on the expanded routes. They have identified potential applications in reducing ground-handling labour requirements and improving efficiency, while the use of electric vehicles could reduce environmental impact. They envisage possible deployment at other airports in Japan, although no timeline for expanded operations has been given.