Airlines

Qantas launches direct seasonal flights between Sydney and Sapporo

New route marks airline's 100th destination, boosting Australia-Japan connectivity

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A Qantas Airbus A330-200 departs from Sydney for Manila. (Photo: Mitchell R Hope via Flickr)

Qantas will introduce direct seasonal flights between Sydney and Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport. This marks a notable expansion of its Japanese network and becoming the airline’s 100th destination globally.

The new service, scheduled to commence on December 15, 2025, will operate three times weekly until March 28, 2026, subject to government and regulatory approval. Using Airbus A330-200 aircraft, the route will offer more than 20,000 seats during the northern ski season.

“We know Sapporo is an extremely popular winter destination for Aussies who love the snow and we’re excited to make it even easier for them to reach Hokkaido’s world-class ski resorts with a direct flight from Sydney,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace.

“These new flights will save passengers hours of travel time compared to connecting in Tokyo or other cities and give them more time to enjoy on the slopes,” he added.

The morning departure from Sydney, arriving in Sapporo early evening, will enable same-day access to renowned ski resorts including Niseko, Furano, Rusutsu, and Kiroro. The service will also coincide with the celebrated Sapporo Snow Festival.

The aircraft configuration includes 27 business class suites in a 1-2-1 layout, featuring direct aisle access and lie-flat beds, alongside 228 economy seats. All fares include checked baggage allowance, meals, and inflight entertainment.

This addition expands Qantas Group’s presence in Japan, complementing existing services to Tokyo from Sydney, Melbourne, and Brisbane. Combined with Jetstar operations, the group will offer more than 1.5 million seats annually between Australia and Japan across eight routes.

The service revival follows its previous operation in early 2020, which received positive customer feedback, according to the carrier.

Bookings for the new route will be available through qantas.com, with the airline set to announce fare details.

Written by
Dirk Andrei Salcedo

Dirk is the founder and editor-in-chief of Aviation Updates Philippines (AUP), a platform dedicated to providing the latest news and insights on the aviation industry in the Philippines. With a strong passion for aviation and a background in computer engineering, he manages all aspects of AUP, from website development to content curation.

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