United Airlines Announces 1st-Ever Flights To Sapporo, Adds New Route Between Chicago & Tokyo

United Airlines has introduced two new international routes, marking its first flights to Sapporo, Japan, and a new connection between Chicago and Tokyo Narita. The Sapporo route, departing from San Francisco International Airport (SFO), will operate seasonally from December through March, three times weekly using Boeing 787-9 aircraft. This makes United the first U.S. mainland carrier to serve Sapporo, known for winter sports, and the second North American airline after Air Canada to fly to New Chitose Airport (CTS). The new Chicago O’Hare (ORD) to Tokyo Narita (NRT) route will run year-round, becoming the only airline to connect these two airports. United will offer up to 13 daily flights to Japan this winter, serving four airports: Sapporo, Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, and Osaka. The airline carried over 1.8 million passengers between Japan and the U.S. last year, solidifying its position as the leading carrier between the two countries. The Sapporo flights will feature four classes of service—United Polaris business class, Premium Plus, Economy Plus, and Economy—with in-seat power and WiFi on all seats. Reservations for the Sapporo route open immediately, catering to winter sports enthusiasts drawn to Hokkaido’s skiing and snowboarding destinations. New Chitose Airport, Sapporo’s hub, is one of Japan’s busiest and operates 24 hours a day, primarily handling domestic and intra-Asia flights. United’s Senior Vice President of Network Planning, Patrick Quayle, highlighted the routes’ strategic value, emphasizing easier access to Japan’s unique destinations and seamless onward travel across Asia via partnerships with ANA and other carriers. The new services aim to provide flexibility for both business and leisure travelers, reinforcing United’s dominance in trans-Pacific air travel.