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United Airlines is stepping up its Japan offerings for the winter 2026-2027 season with the launch of two new nonstop routes. The airline announced it will introduce the first-ever nonstop service between the continental United States and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS) from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) alongside new year-round flights between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT).
Beginning December 11th, United will operate 3x weekly seasonal flights between San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and New Chitose Airport (CTS) through March 26th. The route will operate westbound flights on Sundays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. Eastbound flights will be offered on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. The flights will operate using a Boeing 787-9 aircraft that include 48 Polaris® (Business Class), 21 Premium Plus, 39 Economy Plus®, and 149 Economy® Class seats.
The new service gives travelers nonstop access to one of Japan’s top winter destinations. Sapporo, located on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido, is internationally known for world-class skiing and snowboarding, the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, Hokkaido seafood, as well as Sapporo ramen and regional cuisine.
United says travelers from nearly 80 US cities will be able to connect to the flight through the airline’s San Francisco International Airport (SFO) hub, which serves as its primary Pacific gateway.
In addition to the Sapporo launch, United will also begin daily year-round service between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) starting October 24th. United will become the only US airline offering nonstop service on the route. All Nippon Airways (ANA) and Japan Airlines both currently serve the route nonstop along with ANA, Japan Airlines, and United Airlines all flying between Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD) and Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND). Flights will operate using a Boeing 787-8 aircraft. These feature 28 Polaris® (Business Class), 21 Premium Plus, 36 Economy Plus®, and 158 Economy® Class seats.
United says the additional Narita service will provide easier onward connections to 21 destinations across Asia-Pacific through both United and joint venture partner ANA.
Connecting destinations include:
- Mactan-Cebu International Airport (CEB)
- Guam’s Antonio B. Won Pat International Airport (GUM)
- Kaohsiung International Airport (KHH)
- Palau’s Roman Tmetuchl International Airport (ROR)
- Francisco C. Ada/Saipan International Airport (SPN)
- Ulaanbaatar’s Chinggis Khaan International Airport (UBN)
United remains the largest US carrier serving Japan and says it transported more than 1.8 million passengers between the United States and Japan in 2025 (more than all other US airlines combined).
This winter, the airline expects to operate up to 13 daily flights between the continental United States and Japan, serving:
- Nagoya’s Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO)
- Osaka’s Kansai International Airport (KIX)
- Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport (CTS)
- Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND)
- Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT)
Anthony’s Take: United currently serves 33 destinations across the Pacific and says tickets for the new routes will be available for booking later today through its website and mobile app. It’s exciting to see Chicago get another international flight.
(Image Credits: United Airlines.)
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Advertiser & Editorial Disclosure: The Bulkhead Seat earns an affiliate commission for anyone approved through the links above This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. We work to provide the best publicly available offers to our readers. We frequently update them, but this site does not include all available offers. Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any of these entities.
