All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan’s largest airline, will conduct trials for an autonomous electric bus in collaboration with SoftBank Corp subsidiary SB Drive Corp, Advanced Smart Mobility and BYD at Haneda International Airport.

The trial will begin today and last until 31 January. The development of this autonomous electric bus is the latest example of ANA harnessing the latest technology to improve passenger convenience and comfort.

“ANA is committed to actively embracing the most innovative technology to improve all aspects of the passenger travel experience,” said Shinzo Shimizu, senior executive vice president of ANA. “Once fully implemented, the autonomous electric bus will allow us to provide a more convenient transit experience for our passengers while also improving efficiency for our airport staff. As sustainability has always been a priority, we will continue looking for opportunities to make our products and services more eco-friendly.”

ANA and SB Drive first began trials for the driverless bus in 2018, with SB Drive providing the advanced Dispatcher technology that oversees safety functions by monitoring for obstacles and potential hazards.