Air Canada will launch nonstop service between Vancouver International Airport (YVR) and New Chitose Airport (CTS) in Sapporo, Japan from 17 December 2026, operating three times weekly through the winter season on Boeing 787-8 and 787-9 aircraft. This is the first time Air Canada has served Hokkaido, according to Simple Flying.
The December launch is timed to coincide with the opening of Hokkaido's ski season. Niseko and other Hokkaido resorts attract large numbers of North American winter sports visitors, and the new nonstop eliminates the need for onward connections through Tokyo or other Japanese hubs. InsideFlyer confirmed the December 17 start date and three-weekly frequency operated on a 787-9 as part of Air Canada's wider winter 2026/27 long-haul expansion.
The Vancouver–Sapporo route joins a cluster of new Air Canada international routes for the same season, including nonstop services from Toronto and Montreal to Tenerife and from both cities to Quito. Milesopedia listed Sapporo among the headline new Air Canada winter 2026/27 destinations alongside Tenerife and Quito.
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Things to do at each end of the route
Top-rated tours & experiences in Vancouver and Sapporo.