WHILL Autonomous Driving Service Launched at Paris-Orly Airport
WHILL Co., Ltd. has announced the launch of its "WHILL Autonomous Driving Service" at Paris-Orly Airport in France. Amidst the urgent need to improve accessibility due to an aging population and robust travel demand, the service aims to create a safe and comfortable mobility environment for passengers while reducing the physical burden on assistance staff and promoting labor saving by robotizing and digitalizing traditional mobility services provided by the aviation industry.
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- 📰 Published: April 10, 2026 at 19:00
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WHILL Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Satoshi Sugie; hereinafter "WHILL") announces the launch of its "WHILL Autonomous Driving Service" at Paris-Orly Airport in France. Amidst the urgent need to improve accessibility due to an aging population and robust travel demand, the aviation industry is striving to create a safe and comfortable mobility environment for passengers while simultaneously aiming to reduce the physical burden on assistance staff and promote labor saving by robotizing and digitalizing traditional mobility services.
The global population aged 60 and over is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, indicating a worldwide trend of aging. Furthermore, with travel demand becoming even more robust after the COVID-19 pandemic, the global demand for mobility assistance for passengers with walking difficulties or anxieties is estimated to increase by 10% annually. In reality, the demand for mobility assistance is on an upward trend, with increasing demand for assistance services, longer waiting times, and increased physical burden on staff emerging as significant challenges. Consequently, exploring solutions for rising operating costs and human resource shortages has become an urgent task.
As one solution to these various challenges, the WHILL Autonomous Driving Service has recently garnered attention and is being successively adopted at major hub airports in Japan, the US, and Europe. In fact, its safe, comfortable, and stable operation has been highly evaluated, expanding its service locations to 25 airports worldwide, with cumulative usage exceeding approximately 700,000 times.
The launch of this service at Paris-Orly Airport was realized through a partnership with ADP Group, a French airport operator, and "GSF Smile and Fly," which provides mobility assistance services at airports. All passengers who require support for long-distance travel to their boarding gate can now freely choose the WHILL Autonomous Driving Service in addition to traditional wheelchair assistance services. The WHILL Autonomous Driving Service operates by autonomously navigating while comparing pre-collected map information with surrounding conditions detected by a group of sensors. The passenger's scheduled boarding gate is pre-set as the destination, and the service automatically guides the passenger to their destination, detecting people and obstacles and avoiding, decelerating, or temporarily stopping as needed.
WHILL will continue to work closely with various stakeholders in the aviation industry, providing services that ensure safety and security. Through this, the company aims not only to reduce the operational and physical burden on staff but also to propose a new, independent, and free mobility experience for all airport users.
The global population aged 60 and over is projected to reach 2.1 billion by 2050, indicating a worldwide trend of aging. Furthermore, with travel demand becoming even more robust after the COVID-19 pandemic, the global demand for mobility assistance for passengers with walking difficulties or anxieties is estimated to increase by 10% annually. In reality, the demand for mobility assistance is on an upward trend, with increasing demand for assistance services, longer waiting times, and increased physical burden on staff emerging as significant challenges. Consequently, exploring solutions for rising operating costs and human resource shortages has become an urgent task.
As one solution to these various challenges, the WHILL Autonomous Driving Service has recently garnered attention and is being successively adopted at major hub airports in Japan, the US, and Europe. In fact, its safe, comfortable, and stable operation has been highly evaluated, expanding its service locations to 25 airports worldwide, with cumulative usage exceeding approximately 700,000 times.
The launch of this service at Paris-Orly Airport was realized through a partnership with ADP Group, a French airport operator, and "GSF Smile and Fly," which provides mobility assistance services at airports. All passengers who require support for long-distance travel to their boarding gate can now freely choose the WHILL Autonomous Driving Service in addition to traditional wheelchair assistance services. The WHILL Autonomous Driving Service operates by autonomously navigating while comparing pre-collected map information with surrounding conditions detected by a group of sensors. The passenger's scheduled boarding gate is pre-set as the destination, and the service automatically guides the passenger to their destination, detecting people and obstacles and avoiding, decelerating, or temporarily stopping as needed.
WHILL will continue to work closely with various stakeholders in the aviation industry, providing services that ensure safety and security. Through this, the company aims not only to reduce the operational and physical burden on staff but also to propose a new, independent, and free mobility experience for all airport users.