Narita, Japan, 17 December 2025 — TractEasy, a global provider of autonomous airport ground-support solutions, is supporting Japan Airlines (JAL) as Level 4 autonomous towing enters operational service at Narita International Airport.
The Narita deployment is concrete success at the end of a long journey toward autonomous technology in airport ground operations in Japan, reflecting close collaboration between Japan Airlines, TractEasy, and Japanese aviation authorities. The move to Level 4 operations follows years of structured testing, validation, and regulatory engagement focused on safety, reliability, and operational readiness.
“Japan Airlines was our first airport market customer,” said Richard Reno, CEO of TractEasy. “It’s been a six-year journey, and we made it together. TractEasy is proud of what we have accomplished with JAL, and we are even more excited about what we will accomplish together in the future. This collaborative effort delivered an industry-leading result and we are very proud of what we achieved together.”
A Journey of Innovation and Collaboration
TractEasy’s autonomous towing solution has been developed in close partnership with Japan Airlines since JAL first introduced autonomous tractors into its ground operations. Over multiple phases, the program progressed from supervised demonstrations to fully autonomous Level 4 operations, capable of operating without onboard drivers under defined operational conditions.
Authorization by Japan’s civil aviation authority (JACB) to support Level 4 operations at Narita underscores the technical maturity, safety performance, and operational robustness of the TractEasy system. It also reflects Japan’s continued leadership in advancing airport automation through structured collaboration between industry and regulators.
Advancing Airport Ground Operations
Level 4 autonomy enables TractEasy tractors to perform complex towing missions — including baggage and cargo transport between terminals and satellite facilities — without human intervention. These capabilities can support improved operational efficiency, help address workforce challenges, and contribute to more consistent and optimized ground-handling operations.
“We are honored that JAL entrusted TractEasy to support this important deployment at Narita,” added Reno. “Progressing to Level 4 operations in Japan sets a meaningful reference point for how autonomous technologies can be responsibly introduced into airport environments.”
The Narita operation is the latest in a series of major new international airport deployments for TractEasy, including at Dubai’s newAl Maktoum International Airport (DWC) and Munich Airport.
Link to JAL news article (in Japanese) here.
