A United Airlines airplane is pictured in Barcelona, Spain, in April 2026. (NurPhoto/Getty/Kyodo)
NEW YORK (Kyodo) — United Airlines said Thursday it will launch a new route between Sapporo’s New Chitose airport in northern Japan and San Francisco in December, operating exclusively during the winter season.
It will mark the first nonstop flights between Sapporo and the U.S. mainland, the airline said.
United will also launch a route between Narita airport near Tokyo and Chicago, Illinois, as the airline strengthens its Japan routes amid growing demand for travel to the East Asian country.
United highlighted Sapporo’s appeal as a world-class ski destination and its culinary culture, known for dishes such as Sapporo ramen and Hokkaido seafood.
The airline also named the annual Sapporo Snow Festival as a key tourist attraction.
The San Francisco-Sapporo route will operate three times a week from Dec. 11 through March 2027. The Chicago-Narita route will operate daily from Oct. 24.
“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 travelers more ways to get there than any U.S. airline,” said Patrick Quayle, United’s senior vice president, in a statement.
AloJapan.com