JAL starts driverless towing tractors at Fukuoka Airport, its third airport after Haneda and Narita

Japan Airlines began Level 4 autonomous operations of towing tractors at Fukuoka Airport on 26 October 2026, meaning fully driverless transport under specified conditions, the airline announced the same day.

The electric tractors carry cargo containers on a route of about 1.7 km between the airport's domestic cargo terminal and the ground equipment holding area. JAL developed the operating rules and airside infrastructure upgrades with Fukuoka International Airport Co., and worked with the Civil Aviation Bureau of Japan's transport ministry through its autonomous driving committee. The vehicle is the TLD Robotics EZTow, which can tow up to 14 tonnes. All Nippon Airways is considering a similar system, according to JAL.

Fukuoka is the third airport in JAL's domestic network to use driverless towing, after Tokyo Haneda and Narita, where operations began at the same time in December 2025. The airline says the aim is to tackle labour shortages in ground handling, cut emissions with zero-emission vehicles and reduce the risk of human error on busy aprons.

The operation covers cargo container transport, and the release does not describe any change for passengers. JAL says it plans to extend the fleet and routes and to combine the tractors with remote-controlled aircraft tugs and other automated equipment, but it has not given a timetable for further airports.