United Airlines is expanding its Japan network with two additional routes, including a new non stop service from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Sapporo, New Chitose Airport (CTS) that the airline says will be the first direct connection between the continental United States and the Japanese city.
New Sapporo service
Seasonal flights to Sapporo will begin Dec. 11, 2026 and continue until March 2027, operating three times weekly using a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. The route is expected to appeal to winter sports travellers headed to Hokkaido, a region known for its ski resorts and heavy snowfall.
The airline already operates flights to several destinations in Japan including Tokyo, Osaka and Nagoya. Passengers from cities across North America will be able to connect to the new route via San Francisco.
United’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances, Patrick Quayle, said the airline continues to see strong demand for travel to Asia:
“Whether customers are dreaming of skiing in Sapporo, planning a business trip to Tokyo with some exploration added in, or an even bigger adventure across Asia, United gives travellers more ways to get there than any U.S. airline.”
United also plans to introduce a daily service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) from Oct. 24, 2026, pending government approval.
Tokyo flights from Chicago
The service from Chicago to Tokyo Narita will use a Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft and is expected to complement the airline’s existing Tokyo Haneda operations. According to the airline, NRT will provide passengers with onward connections across the Asia- Pacific region through United’s partnership with All Nippon Airways (ANA).
With these two new routes, United will serve five airports in four Japanese cities from its hubs in the U.S., helping to connect travellers to more destinations in Japan.
Will you be using this route for a winter trip to Japan? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
