Australia’s Qantas Airways is expanding its service to Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan for the 2026-27 season. | Credit: Qantas Facebook
Australians will have more travel options than ever for skiing in Japan.
Back in January, Qantas Airways, the flag carrier of Australia, announced an increase in direct service from Sydney to Sapporo, Japan, during the 2026-27 season, bringing flights from three to as many as five per week. Building upon a 2025-26 season that saw record-setting numbers of Australians visiting Japan, the expanded service is intended to allow even more Australian skiers to visit Hokkaido, Japan, during peak season when the region’s famous powder is falling in full force.
This year’s service from Sydney to Sapporo will operate from Dec. 7, 2026, to March 31, 2027, covering the entire Japanese ski season. The expansion adds more than 10,000 seats, bringing the total capacity to nearly 35,000. With increased capacity and more dates to choose from, Australian skiers can access Hokkaido more easily than they ever have before.
Flights will run between Sydney Airport and New Chitose Airport and will operate on the following schedule:
Dec. 7-15, 2026: Three per week (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday)
Dec. 16, 2026-January 31, 2027: Up to five per week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday, Sunday)
Feb. 1-28, 2027: Four per week (Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday)
March 1-31, 2027: Three per week (Monday, Wednesday, Saturday)
With this schedule, flights will begin with three per week in the early season, giving travelers time to make plans while also letting snow accumulate at resorts across Hokkaido. Flights reach their maximum frequency during the holiday season when demand for flights is the highest. In February, four weekly flights keep skiers steadily traveling to the region — perfect for powder chasers who want to miss the holiday crowds of December and January. The schedule then returns to three weekly flights as the Japanese ski season winds down.
Qantas’ decision to boost its service comes after new data from the Japan National Tourism Organization (JNTO) revealing record-setting numbers of Australians visiting Japan. Over one million Australians visited Japan in 2025, a 15% increase from an already record-breaking 2024 that saw around 920,000 Australian travelers visiting the Asian island country.
At the moment, Qantas is the only airline with an established link between Sydney and Sapporo. The airline first launched a direct service to Sapporo in 2025 with three flights a week, with Sapporo becoming the 100th destination to join the airline’s international network. Shortly after launching its service, Qantas reported strong numbers of travelers, with nearly 10,000 passengers using the route during the first half of its inaugural season.
“Since launching flights from Sydney to Sapporo last month, the response from customers has been incredibly strong,” Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said back in January in a press release. “We’re only halfway through the current season, and already we’ve carried almost 10,000 customers on the route, and demand is high for the rest of the season.”
The success of the 2025-26 route led Qantas to expand it for the upcoming 2026-27 season, giving Australians more options for trips to Japan.
“Japan remains a key focus for Qantas in the Asia region,” Wallace said. “By adding more flights next season, it cements our dedication to strengthening ties between our two countries and gives Australian travellers more choice and seamless direct access to Hokkaido’s snow.”
Dozens of resorts are scattered across the region, including the famous Sapporo Teine and Sapporo Kokusai ski resorts— both famous for their deep, soft powder. Japan typically receives its heaviest, most reliable snowfall in January and February, and Qantas scheduling four to five flights per week during that stretch capitalizes on a time when skiers are looking to travel most.
Direct access to Hokkaido also simplifies the journey and relieves stress for many travelers. Instead of connecting and spending time in airports, passengers can enjoy the ease of getting on the plane in Sydney and landing in Sapporo. It also makes flying with skiing equipment easier, as bags are less likely to get misplaced or damaged by the airline.
When passengers arrive in Sapporo, the New Chitose Airport makes it easy to get to lodging accommodations. The airport has integrated rail, bus, taxi, and car-hire options to allow for further travel.
With Australia coming off one of its poorest ski seasons in recent memory, it is possible that more of its skiers could be seeking a trip to satisfy their itch for more laps. Resorts across the country were forced to close up to a month early due to unusual warmth. With that in mind, many skiers could be looking for a trip, and Japan could prove to be a top option.
Australian skiers interested in booking vacations to Japan can do so on the Qantas website.
Japan offers some of the best powder skiing in the world. | Credit: SkiJapan.com
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