Qantas will boost capacity on its Sydney–Sapporo service for the 2026–27 winter season, lifting flights from three per week to up to five during the peak.
The enhanced schedule represents an increase of more than 50 per cent, adding over 10,000 additional seats and taking total capacity to nearly 35,000 seats across the winter.
A route that’s built for winter
Qantas has already carried almost 10,000 passengers on the Sydney–Sapporo service so far this season, with demand holding through January. The airline remains the only carrier flying non-stop between the two cities.
The expanded schedule adds more than 10,000 seats, lifting total winter capacity to nearly 35,000
For the 2026–27 season, flights will operate three times weekly in early December, rise to up to five services per week across late December and January, then step back through February and March.
Why winter demand keeps stacking up
Japan’s winter pull is now showing up clearly in the numbers. More than one million Australians travelled to Japan in 2025, according to the Japan National Tourism Organization, a 15 per cent increase on the year before. December alone accounted for 121,300 visitors, aligning with school holidays and the start of the ski season.
More than one million Australians travelled to Japan in 2025, with winter months among the busiest.
That timing is no accident. Qantas first launched the Sydney–Sapporo service back in 2019-2020 as a seasonal operation to line up with Hokkaido’s peak snow period, and demand has continued to track closely with winter travel patterns rather than one-off curiosity.
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace said the response to the route has been immediate.
“Since launching flights from Sydney to Sapporo last month the response from customers has been incredibly strong,” he said.
“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.”
What the schedule looks like
QF107 Sydney to Sapporo Schedule – 2026/27 Season (subject to change)
7 – 15 December 2026: Three per week (Mon, Wed, Sat)
16 December 2026 – 31 January 2027: Up-to five per week (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun)
1 February – 28 February 2027: Four per week (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat)
1 March – 31 March 2027: Three per week (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Return economy fares from Sydney to Sapporo are currently listed from AUD$1,473.
KARRYON UNPACKS: Japan winter travel is now repeat-driven. Airlines are scaling capacity to match behaviour that’s already settled.
AloJapan.com