Japan airports to deploy AI, drones to stop breakdowns as inbound travel soars

Artificial intelligence

Trading house Sumitomo leads initiative to raise maintenance efficiency at short-handed hubs

Japan aims to expand combined annual takeoff and landing slots at Narita and Haneda airports from 830,000 to 1 million. (Photo by Hiroshi Tanda)

KENTO HIRASHIMA

September 2, 2026 05:18 JST

TOKYO — Japanese airports will harness artificial intelligence to spot problems with runways, lights and other infrastructure, aiming to double efficiency as they scramble to accommodate more foreign passengers with fewer workers.