United to launch Chicago-Narita, seasonal winter San Francisco-Sapporo service

United Airlines is expanding its services to Japan with a non-stop service between Chicago and Tokyo Narita, and a new seasonal service this winter to Sapporo.

From December 11, United will operate three weekly flights between San Francisco and Sapporo New Chitose Airport. Using Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner aircraft, the new route will be the first nonstop flights between the continental US and Sapporo.

United previously operated flights to Sapporo from its Pacific hub on Guam. Hawaiian Airlines operated flights between Honolulu and Sapporo before the pandemic.

Separately, United will also launch a new daily year-round service between Chicago O’hare and Narita from October 24. With its current Chicago-Haneda flights, United will be the lone US airline to offer flights from Chicago to both Tokyo-area hubs. The airline will use Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft on the route.

Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances at United said: "Our new nonstop service from San Francisco to Sapporo makes it easier to vacation in one of Japan's most unique destinations, while our new Chicago to Tokyo-Narita service gives business and leisure travelers a premium onboard experience and the flexibility to continue their journey across Asia on United to exciting destinations like Cebu, Palau and Ulaanbaatar, or onward on our joint venture partner ANA to cities like Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur."

With the two new routes, United will operate 13 daily flights from its continental US hubs to four points in Japan including the two Tokyo-area hubs Haneda and Narita, Sapporo, and Osaka Kansai. The airline will continue to operate multiple daily flights from its Pacific hub on Guam to the four points and Nagoya, along with its routes from Narita to Cebu, Saipan, Palau, Kaoshiung, and Ulaanbaatar.

Currently the leading US airline between the continental US and Japan, United served 1.8 million passengers between the two countries – more than all other US-based airlines combined.