- New seasonal route between Sydney and Sapporo
- 100th destination in the Qantas network
- Qantas to fly over 850,000 seats per year to Japan
(IN SHORT) Qantas is launching a seasonal direct flight between Sydney and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, marking the airline’s 100th destination. The new route, starting in December 2025, will operate three times a week, offering over 20,000 seats during the ski season. The flights will save time for Australian travelers heading to Hokkaido’s ski resorts, offering same-day travel to popular spots. The service will coincide with the Sapporo Snow Festival and will be operated using an Airbus A330-200. This expansion adds to Qantas’ existing services to Japan, strengthening its position as a major carrier between Australia and Japan.
(PRESS RELEASE) Sydney, Australia, 2025-Jan-25 — /Travel PR News/ — Qantas is set to launch direct seasonal flights from Sydney to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, providing Australians with the only nonstop link between the two cities and catering to the growing demand for access to Japan’s famed snowfields. The new route will be the airline’s 100th destination, a significant milestone in its global network, and will coincide with the peak ski season in Hokkaido.
Beginning on 15 December 2025, Qantas will operate the service three times a week until 28 March 2026, utilizing its Airbus A330-200 aircraft. This service will offer more than 20,000 seats during the northern hemisphere’s ski season, enhancing the airline’s offerings to Japan. Departing Sydney in the morning and arriving in Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport in the early evening, the new direct flight will save Australians several hours of travel time compared to one-stop alternatives, enabling same-day travel to popular ski resorts like Niseko, Furano, Rusutsu, and Kiroro. Skiers can even spend a morning on the slopes before heading back to Sydney later that evening.
Hokkaido, renowned for its dry powder snow and vibrant village life, is also home to the famous hot spring towns of Noboribetsu and Jozankei. The launch of Qantas’ new service will coincide with the annual Sapporo Snow Festival, offering an exciting cultural experience for travelers.
Return Economy fares for the Sydney-Sapporo route will be available on the Qantas website later today, including checked baggage, meals, and inflight entertainment. This new addition to Qantas’ route network marks the airline’s fourth destination in Japan, complementing its double daily flights to Tokyo Haneda from Sydney and daily services from Melbourne and Brisbane to Tokyo Narita. Qantas remains the only carrier offering direct connections between Australia’s three largest cities and Tokyo.
The Qantas Group continues to strengthen its ties with Japan, now operating eight routes and offering over 1.5 million seats annually between the two countries. Other key routes include flights from Sydney, Brisbane, and Cairns to Osaka Kansai and Tokyo Narita.
Cam Wallace, Qantas International CEO, shared his excitement about the new route: “We know that Sapporo is a highly sought-after winter destination for Australians, and these new flights will make it even easier for travelers to access Hokkaido’s world-class ski resorts. These flights will save passengers valuable time, allowing them to spend more time on the slopes and less time traveling. The response to our previous services to Sapporo has been overwhelmingly positive, and we are excited to bring this route back.”
Media Contact:
email: qantasmedia@qantas.com.au
Source: Qantas
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