Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways hiring in 2026 is spread across dozens of group companies, not just the two airline brands. When someone says they work “for JAL” or “for ANA” at Haneda Airport or Narita International Airport, they are often employed by a separate airport-services, cargo or maintenance company inside the group. Knowing this map is the fastest way to find the right recruit page, and it suits freshers, logistics workers and service-minded people who want a stable airline-group employer behind their airport job.
On the JAL side, JAL Sky recruits passenger-service ground staff and station operations staff at Haneda and Narita, JAL Ground Service (JGS) recruits ramp and ground-handling staff, JAL Cargo Service handles air cargo at Narita, and JAL Engineering covers aircraft maintenance. On the ANA side, ANA Airport Services covers Haneda, ANA Narita Airport Services covers Narita, the e.TEAM ANA maintenance companies cover technical work, and Nippon Cargo Airlines (NCA) has been brought into ANA Holdings’ cargo business. These companies recruit such roles regularly, but this article does not claim any particular vacancy is open right now.
For foreign applicants, ramp, cargo, baggage and cabin-cleaning roles in these groups may potentially fit the Specified Skilled Worker (SSW) Aviation field, depending on exact duties and occupational classification. Passenger-service counter roles and cabin crew are not part of that field, so the visa route depends heavily on which group company and which job you choose.
JAL & ANA Group Hiring 2026 – Quick Overview
| Job Title | Airport Ramp Staff, Cargo Handler, Passenger Service Ground Staff, Operations Staff, Airport Customer Service |
| Country | Japan |
| Location | Haneda Airport (Tokyo) and Narita International Airport (Chiba) |
| Employers (examples) | JAL Sky, JAL Ground Service, JAL Cargo Service, ANA Airport Services, ANA Narita Airport Services, ANA Business Solution |
| Industry | Aviation – airline group airport services, cargo and passenger handling |
| Indicative Salary | About ¥211,000 – ¥230,000 per month in group starting-pay figures |
| Experienced Salary | Higher with allowances, overtime and seniority; JAL Sky’s Global Field Course starts at ¥243,000 |
| Education | Depends on the company and course; new-graduate tracks list pay by education level |
| Experience | New graduates and mid-career applicants both recruited, depending on company |
| Japanese | Business-level for passenger service; daily conversation for many ramp and cargo jobs |
| Work Type | Full-time new-graduate and mid-career roles, plus contract and dispatch jobs |
| Work Schedule | Shift work covering the full flight day, weekends and holidays |
| Accommodation | Varies by group company; confirm in the job offer |
| Overtime | Possible during peaks and irregular operations; paid separately |
What Does a JAL or ANA Group Airport Worker Do?
A JAL or ANA group airport worker delivers one part of the airline’s on-the-ground service, from the check-in desk to the cargo warehouse to the aircraft stand.
- Checks in passengers and issues boarding passes
- Manages boarding gates and final passenger counts
- Handles transfer passengers and missed connections
- Loads and unloads baggage and cargo containers
- Guides aircraft to the stand and supports towing
- Operates ground support equipment after training
- Washes aircraft exteriors and cleans cabins (JGS duties)
- Accepts, weighs and stores export and import cargo
- Builds pallets and prepares cargo for loading
- Plans stand allocation and turnaround timing in operations rooms
- Greets arriving passengers and staffs information points
- Coordinates with cabin crew, pilots and maintenance teams
- Follows group safety manuals and security procedures
- Reports irregular baggage, damage or safety issues
Types of JAL & ANA Group Jobs
Passenger Service Ground Staff (JAL Sky / ANA Airport Services / ANA Narita Airport Services)
These companies run check-in, gates and lounges for their airline. JAL Sky had 3,424 employees in March 2025 and plans about 150 Main Base and about 10 Global Field new-graduate hires for FY2027.
Airport Ramp and Baggage Staff (JAL Ground Service / ANA airport companies)
JGS handles loading, aircraft guidance and towing, exterior washing, cabin cleaning and baggage at Haneda and Narita. On the ANA side, ramp service sits inside ANA Airport Services and ANA Narita Airport Services.
Air Cargo Handling (JAL Cargo Service / ANA Narita Airport Services / NCA)
JAL Cargo Service is JAL’s cargo-handling partner at Narita and moved into the Narita market logistics building in 2023. ANA Narita Airport Services also lists cargo work, and Narita-based Nippon Cargo Airlines is now part of ANA Holdings’ cargo business.
Operations Management and Station Control
ANA Narita Airport Services, ANA Airport Services and JAL Sky all recruit operations or station-operations staff, mainly through new-graduate hiring.
Airport Customer Service and Screening (ANA Business Solution / ANA Sky Building Service)
ANA Business Solution provides dispatch staff for Narita arrivals and customer-service roles, while ANA Sky Building Service handles baggage screening at Haneda T2 on contract.
Aircraft Maintenance (JAL Engineering / e.TEAM ANA)
JAL Engineering maintains aircraft at Haneda, Narita and Itami. ANA’s maintenance companies recruit jointly as e.TEAM ANA and recommend English of about TOEIC 450.
Cabin Crew and Head-Office Roles (JAL and ANA themselves)
The airlines hire cabin crew, pilots and corporate staff directly. Japan-based cabin crew is regular Japanese employment and is not an SSW occupation.
JAL & ANA Group Salary 2026
| Position | Indicative Monthly Salary |
| JAL Sky Ground Staff | ¥213,000 (Main Base Course, April 2025 starting pay) |
| ANA Airport Services Staff (all job types) | ¥224,500 (2025 starting pay, Haneda) |
| ANA Narita Operations Staff | ¥220,938 (university graduate, 2027 intake, before allowances) |
| Cargo Handler | ¥220,000 (approx. ¥200,000 – ¥300,000) |
| Airport Customer Service | ¥230,000 (approx. ¥200,000 – ¥250,000) |
Take-home pay changes with the employer, shift pattern, allowances and overtime, and the group-company figures above are base starting pay before shift and other allowances. All figures are indicative rather than guaranteed, and the customer service range is converted from hourly pay at about 160–170 hours a month.
JAL & ANA Group Jobs for Foreign Workers
The SSW Aviation field covers two sub-areas: airport ground handling (ramp, cargo and baggage handling, cabin cleaning and aircraft guidance) and aircraft maintenance. Inside the JAL and ANA groups, that points mainly to companies such as JAL Ground Service, the ramp and cargo teams of ANA’s airport companies, and the maintenance companies. Even so, you should not assume every vacancy qualifies; the actual job content decides the classification.
JGS is the clearest example of SSW hiring in these groups. It started taking SSW workers in FY2023, about 90 of roughly 470 JAL group hires that year were SSW, and JAL had 111 SSW workers at the start of FY2024. ANA Holdings’ group companies hired about 460 people in FY2023 and have recruited foreign talent, but the published reports do not confirm which ANA companies used SSW specifically.
The national SSW(i) Aviation cap is 4,900 people through the end of March 2029. Cabin crew and passenger counter jobs need a different, suitable residence status, so do not plan on SSW for those roles.
Japanese Language Requirement
Group companies work mainly in Japanese, and the level expected depends on how much contact you have with passengers.
- Passenger service ground staff: business-level Japanese and polite service language
- Operations staff: strong reading and radio communication in Japanese
- Ramp and baggage staff: enough Japanese to follow safety briefings and hand signals
- Cargo staff: ability to read labels and documents, often with English
- English is useful at international terminals and in maintenance
The SSW(i) route requires JFT-Basic A2 or above, or JLPT N4 or above, with an exemption for those who completed Technical Intern Training (ii) in the field in good standing.
Eligibility
- Permission to work in Japan under an appropriate residence status
- Meeting each group company’s education requirements for the chosen course
- Japanese ability suited to the role
- Readiness for shift work, including holidays
- Passing airport security screening for an airside pass
- For SSW applicants, passing the Aviation skills test and language test
- For cabin crew, meeting JAL’s or ANA’s officially stated conditions, such as living within commuting range of Haneda or Narita
Education Qualification
JAL and ANA group companies often recruit through new-graduate courses with starting pay set by education level, while contract and dispatch roles focus more on skills and availability. JAL Sky, for example, separates its Main Base Course from its Global Field Course.
- High school, vocational school, junior college or university, depending on the course
- Degree often expected for operations and Global Field-type courses
- Technical training helps for maintenance companies
- Language test scores support applications to passenger-facing roles
Daily Work of a JAL or ANA Group Airport Worker
- Clock in at the group company’s airport office
- Join the morning or shift briefing on the day’s flights
- Check equipment, systems or counters for the first departures
- Coordinate with other group companies working the same flight
- Check in passengers or prepare baggage and cargo loads
- Support aircraft arrival, unloading and turnaround
- Handle boarding or final cargo loading before departure
- Respond to delays, rebookings or irregular cargo
- Complete flight records and handover notes
- Finish the shift and return uniforms or equipment
Every group company follows strict safety rules, because one flight depends on ground staff, ramp teams, cargo handlers and engineers all doing their part correctly.
Working Hours
- Rotating shifts planned around the flight schedule
- Early starts for first departures from Haneda and Narita
- Late shifts for evening arrivals and international flights
- Cargo work can include night shifts
- Days off on a rotating roster rather than fixed weekends
- Extra hours during holiday peaks and disruptions
Because both Tokyo airports handle flights from early morning until late at night, most group-company airport roles use shift rosters rather than standard office hours.
Accommodation
- Housing support differs between group companies
- Some employers may offer dormitories or rent subsidies
- Commuting allowances are commonly provided
- SSW employers must help foreign workers find housing
- Cabin crew applicants must live within commuting range of their base (ANA states within 2 hours by public transport)
Check any rent or utility deductions written in your contract before accepting an offer.
Benefits
- Social insurance for eligible employees
- Shift, night and overtime allowances
- Commuting allowance
- Paid annual leave
- Uniform and safety equipment
- Group training programmes
- Bonuses at many full-time group employers, depending on performance
Benefits depend on the specific group company, contract type and work rules.
Career Growth
New Staff → Experienced Agent → Team Leader → Supervisor
- Move from passenger service into operations or station control
- Earn ramp and equipment qualifications for wider duties
- ANA and JAL have mutually recognised ramp-handling qualifications at 10 airports since April 2024
- SSW(ii) in ground handling requires supervisory experience plus the SSW(ii) test or an aviation licence
- Maintenance staff can build towards licensed technician roles
Skills That Can Improve Your Chances
- Good Japanese, including polite customer language
- English for international passengers and cargo documents
- TOEIC score for maintenance and airline-direct roles
- Knowledge of airline and airport operations
- Driving licence for ramp roles
- Forklift experience for cargo roles
- Calm problem-solving during delays
- Teamwork across different companies on the same flight
- Attention to safety rules
Documents Required
- Passport and residence card if in Japan
- CV or rirekisho
- Graduation certificate or expected-graduation certificate
- Academic transcripts for new-graduate courses
- JLPT, JFT-Basic or TOEIC score reports
- SSW Aviation test certificate, if applying through SSW
- Driving licence where required
- Recent photographs
Requirements vary between group companies and between new-graduate and mid-career recruitment.
How to Apply Online
Step 1: Prepare Your CV
Write a CV that names the exact group company and role you want, such as JAL Sky ground staff or ANA Narita Airport Services cargo.
Step 2: Describe Your Skills
Match your experience to that company’s work, for example service skills for JAL Sky or physical and vehicle skills for JGS.
Step 3: Gather Certificates
Prepare education, language and licence documents before the application period opens.
Step 4: Check the Job Category
Confirm whether the role is ground handling, cargo, maintenance or passenger service, because this decides your visa options.
Step 5: Complete Required Tests
Take aptitude tests set by the company and, for SSW, the JAEA Aviation skills test and a Japanese test.
Step 6: Attend the Interview
Explain why you chose that group company and how you handle shifts and teamwork.
Step 7: Review the Contract
Check which airport you will work at, your pay, allowances and any deductions.
Step 8: Complete Immigration Procedures
Apply for the correct residence status with your employer’s help, after finding roles on the JAL Group recruitment site (job-jal.com), ANA recruit pages or e.TEAM ANA.
JAL & ANA Group Hiring 2026 – FAQs
Do JAL and ANA hire airport staff directly?
Mostly through group companies. Ground staff, ramp and cargo work is usually handled by companies like JAL Sky, JGS, ANA Airport Services and ANA Narita Airport Services.
Which JAL company handles cargo at Narita?
JAL Cargo Service is the JAL group’s cargo-handling partner at Narita. “JAL Cargo” is the brand of JAL’s cargo business rather than a separate hiring company.
What is NCA’s link to ANA?
Nippon Cargo Airlines is a Narita-based cargo airline that ANA Holdings moved to make a wholly owned subsidiary, with completion reported after the original August 2025 target date.
How big is ANA’s group hiring?
ANA plans about 2,300 new-graduate hires for FY2027 across 39 group companies.
Is this a guaranteed job offer?
No. This article only explains the hiring structure, and every decision is made by the employer.
Should I pay someone to get me a JAL or ANA group job?
Never pay unlicensed agents. Use official group recruit sites or licensed recruitment services only.
Can SSW lead to a JAL or ANA cabin crew job?
No. Cabin crew is not an SSW occupation and is recruited separately by the airlines.
Which company should a fresher with no airport experience try first?
Many freshers look at ramp, cargo or passenger-service roles at the airport companies, depending on their Japanese level and education.
Final Words
Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways hiring is easiest to follow once you see it as a map of group companies, each with its own airport, cargo or passenger-service role. Choose the company that matches your skills and visa route, then watch its official recruit page for openings.
Disclaimer: All salary figures mentioned in this article are indicative estimates based on general industry patterns and may vary by employer, location, experience, and contract terms. They do not represent a guaranteed salary, job offer, or visa approval. This website is not affiliated with Japan Airlines or ANA.
