Air Canada plans to launch winter-season flights from Vancouver to Sapporo in December 2026, opening the only nonstop connection between Japan’s Hokkaido region and North America.
The carrier plans to operate three flights per week between Vancouver International Airport and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport from Dec. 17 through late March 2027. Flights will be operated using Boeing 787 aircraft.
“With this new service, Air Canada is reinforcing its Vancouver hub as North America’s second-largest Pacific gateway, building on strong premium leisure and ongoing travel demand to Japan,” Air Canada Executive Vice President and CCO Mark Galardo says. He adds the new route will shorten travel times for both sides of the market.
Despite Canada’s own extensive winter tourism offering in British Columbia and Alberta, Air Canada is looking to tap demand for Hokkaido’s renowned powder snow, winter festivals and hot springs. The route will be the first direct link between Sapporo and North America since Hawaiian Airlines ended its seasonal Honolulu service at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.
The launch will expand Air Canada’s already dominant position in the Canada-Japan market. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the airline currently serves Japan from four gateways during the winter season, comprising daily Vancouver-Tokyo Narita and Toronto-Tokyo Haneda flights, as well as Montreal-Narita and Toronto-Narita services. The Star Alliance member also serves Osaka Kansai during the summer months from Toronto and Vancouver.
In January 2026, Air Canada holds a 57.3% capacity share of the nonstop Canada-Japan market, ahead of WestJet, All Nippon Airways, Zipair Tokyo and Japan Airlines. Overall two-way monthly seat capacity between Canada and Japan totals about 135,900 seats this month, up from about 121,000 a year earlier.
The Sapporo route also aligns with long-term ambitions by Hokkaido Airports to build New Chitose into a long-haul gateway. Speaking to Aviation Week at Routes World 2025 in September, airport operator Hokkaido Airports said it was targeting nonstop links to North America and Europe after seeing growth from Southeast Asia and Australia.
Related Content
