United adds San Francisco–Sapporo flights

United Airlines said on May 14 that it will add two Japan routes for the 2026 winter schedule, including a new nonstop link between San Francisco and Sapporo's New Chitose Airport. The carrier said daily year-round service between Chicago O'Hare and Tokyo Narita will begin in October, while the Sapporo flight will start in December. United described the Sapporo service as its first-ever flights to the city and said the route would be the only nonstop connection between the continental United States and Sapporo. The announcement adds to United's Japan network as the airline said it expects to fly up to 13 daily flights from the continental United States to four airports in Japan this winter. ### When do the new flights start? United said the Chicago-Tokyo Narita service will start on October 25, 2026, and operate daily year-round. The airline said the San Francisco-New Chitose service will begin on December 11, 2026, and run three times a week through March 26, 2027. (united.mediaroom.com) The May 14 company announcement said tickets for both routes are already on sale. Mainichi, citing the airline's route announcement, reported the San Francisco-New Chitose link will be the first direct connection between the two airports. ### What is new about the Sapporo route? (united.mediaroom.com) San Francisco International Airport will give United a West Coast departure point for its first Sapporo service. United said the flight will be the only nonstop service between the continental United States and Sapporo, a city the airline highlighted as a winter destination. (united.mediaroom.com) Mainichi reported on May 15 that United had announced its first direct New Chitose-San Francisco connection. Aviation Week separately reported that United will launch the route for the 2025-2026 northern hemisphere winter season beginning Dec. 11, matching the airline's schedule details. ### How does Chicago fit into United's Japan network? (united.mediaroom.com) Chicago O'Hare will become United's latest U.S. gateway to Tokyo Narita when the daily service starts in October. The airline said it will then serve Narita from six of its seven continental U.S. hubs. United said the two additions will expand a Japan network that already includes Tokyo Haneda, Tokyo Narita and Osaka service from the United States. (mainichi.jp) In the May 14 release, the airline said it will fly to four Japanese airports this winter: Sapporo, Narita, Haneda and Osaka. (united.mediaroom.com) ### How is the airline describing the expansion? United said in its announcement that the new routes give customers "even more ways to explore Japan." The company also said it is "the largest airline between the continental U.S. and Japan," a claim included in the release announcing the flights. (united.mediaroom.com) The carrier's route map and Japan booking pages show the airline already sells service across its broader Japan network. The new Sapporo and Chicago-Narita flights are being added on top of those existing offerings. ### What happens next? October 25, 2026 is the scheduled start date for United's daily Chicago O'Hare-Tokyo Narita flights, according to the airline's May 14 announcement. (united.mediaroom.com) December 11, 2026 is the scheduled launch date for the three-times-weekly San Francisco-New Chitose service, which United said will run through March 26, 2027, with tickets already on sale. (united.com)