Tokyo. Photo: Shutterstock Route expansion in Japan announced United Airlines revealed today (Wednesday) that it will introduce two new routes in Japan: a seasonal nonstop flight from San Francisco to Sapporo, and a year-round daily service between Chicago and Tokyo Narita.
This move positions United as one of the leading carriers for U.S.-Japan Routes, with an increased presence in four major Japanese airports: Sapporo, Tokyo Narita, Tokyo Haneda, and Osaka.
Starting in October, United will operate a daily flight between Chicago O'Hare and Tokyo Narita, expanding connectivity between the United States, Japan, and onward destinations across Asia via Tokyo. Meanwhile, from December through March, it will offer seasonal flights from San Francisco to Sapporo three times a week.
Direct flights between the U.S.Sapporo is recognized as one of Japan’s fastest-growing destinations, especially in winter, thanks to ski resorts, snow-covered landscapes, and famous events like the Sapporo Snow Festival.
With this initiative, United expects to operate up to 13 daily flights between the U.S. and Japan during the winter season, utilizing its fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners and connecting dozens of American cities to destinations throughout Asia via its main hubs.
United notes that the expansion of its Japan network aims to increase access to both business and leisure destinations, while strengthening connections to other Asian locations through partnerships with regional carriers.
The new Chicago-Tokyo Narita service is expected to provide seamless connectivity to key destinations across Asia-Pacific, including Southeast Asia and Oceania, via Tokyo.
Concurrently, the San Francisco-Sapporo flight will become the first nonstop winter route between the U.S. mainland and Sapporo, opening up a new winter destination in Japan for American travelers.
United highlights that it currently operates the most extensive network between the United States and Japan, serving six Japanese airports through seven major U.S. hubs.
Photo: UNITED