Overview
- United, which announced the expansion Thursday, will start Chicago O’Hare–Tokyo Narita flights on October 24, 2026 and launch a winter‑season San Francisco–Sapporo nonstop in December 2026.
- The San Francisco–Sapporo route will run three times a week from December 11 through March on a Boeing 787-9, creating the first nonstop link from the U.S. mainland to Hokkaido’s ski country and the Sapporo Snow Festival.
- United will add daily year‑round Chicago–Narita service using a Boeing 787-8, positioning itself as the only U.S. airline on that route pending government approval.
- Narita functions as a connection hub, giving Midwest travelers one‑stop access to cities such as Cebu, Guam and Ulaanbaatar on United and joint‑venture partner ANA.
- United cites carrying about 1.8 million passengers between the continental U.S. and Japan in 2025, and the Sapporo launch will face fresh competition from Air Canada’s similar winter service from Vancouver.