Air Canada has a robust long-haul network and it just got even more interesting. The Canadian flag carrier has announced that it will launch service to Sapporo, Japan in 2026. This marks the first nonstop flight between the Japanese city and North America.
Air Canada Launching Flights Between Vancouver and Sapporo
Beginning in December 2026, Air Canada will launch 3x weekly seasonal service between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS). The route will operate between December 17, 2026 and March 26, 2027, coinciding with the Japanese ski season in Hokkaido.
Air Canada plans to use Boeing 787-8 aircraft on the route which are outfitted with 20 Business Class, 21 Premium Economy, and 214 Economy seats. The 4,288 mile flight will operate westbound on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays and eastbound on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays. The flights are blocked at 9h 10m westbound and 8h 15m eastbound. Flights will operate on the following schedule:
| Flight | Departs | Arrives |
|---|---|---|
| AC55 (YVR-CTS) | 1:25p | 3:35p (+1) |
| AC54 (CTS-YVR) | 7:55p | 11:10a |
Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President of Cargo at Air Canada, said this about the new service:
“Air Canada’s global network is further strengthened by the addition of Sapporo, a premier winter leisure destination in Japan’s northern Hokkaido prefecture. 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, while providing yet another sought-after destination for our customers and Aeroplan Members. Whether people are avid snow enthusiasts, cultural or culinary connoisseurs, or global explorers, Air Canada’s new service will make discovering Japan’s vibrant northern regions more convenient than ever.”
My Thoughts
Air Canada’s new service to Sapporo is an exciting development for those looking to hit the slopes in Japan next winter. Given the size of its hub in Vancouver, there should be plenty of connecting options for passengers across North America.
This is also a very creative way to deploy capacity in the winter when transatlantic travel is at its weakest. Air Canada typically operates a robust network to the Caribbean and South America during the winter but, the addition of Sapporo is a unique one that I’m sure many people will take advantage of.
We just returned from a trip to Japan last summer and are looking forward to going back. I’ve always wanted to ski in another country, especially considering how expensive U.S. ski resorts are, so maybe this will give me the boost I need to finally make it happen!
Summary
Air Canada is launching 3x weekly flights between Vancouver and Sapporo for the 2026-2027 ski season. This will be the only direct flight between North America and Sapporo which should open up a ton of one stop connecting opportunities via the carrier’s Vancouver hub.