Air Canada’s Sapporo route to become the second non-Tokyo airport with direct flights to North America

While avid skiers will rejoice at the news that Air Canada has announced new direct connections between Vancouver, Canada, and Sapporo, Japan, it will be only the second Japanese city to receive direct services from continental North America, barring Tokyo.

On January 21, 2026, Air Canada said that it will launch seasonal flights between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and Sapporo New Chitose Airport (CTS) on December 17. The thrice-weekly route will run until March 26, 2027, with the flights, operated withBoeing 787-8s, departing YVR on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.

Mark Galardo, the Executive Vice President, Chief Commercial Officer, and President of Cargo at Air Canada, reflected that the route will continue reinforcing its YVR hub, “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.”

Non-Tokyo to North America routes

Air Canada’s newest YVR-CTS service will make CTS the second Japanese destination outside of Tokyo to be served from continental North America.

According to Cirium’s Diio Mi, the only other Japanese airport with direct services from continental North America is Kansai International Airport (KIX).

In addition to Air Canada’s YVR-KIX seasonal services, Japan Airlines and United Airlines offer flights from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to the Japanese airport.

The two carriers serve KIX year-round.

In March 2023, Delta Air Lines ended its long-running Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW) to Chubu Centrair International Airport (NGO) route, which was known as the ‘Motor Town Express’ for connecting two automotive industrial cities.

Sapporo’s first connection outside Asia-Pacific

Meanwhile, Air Canada’s new route will be CTS’ first connection outside of Asia-Pacific since Finnair and Hawaiian Airlines ended their respective flights to the airport at the onset of the pandemic.

Finnair only launched its Helsinki Airport (HEL) to CTS route in December 2019, meaning that it was online for less than six months before the pandemic halted the itinerary.

Hawaiian Airlines offered three weekly departures between Honolulu Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) and CTS before it was forced to end the route due to the global health crisis.