United Airlines, one of the busiest carriers in the United States, has recently added new nonstop flights to several of Japan’s major airports. The carrier announced on May 21 new nonstop daily flights from Chicago (ORD) to Tokyo Narita (NRT). Narita is the key gateway to Hakuba and the surrounding ski areas of Nagano Prefecture and provides easy access to Japan’s bullet train system. The airline also announced new nonstop seasonal flights from San Francisco (SFO) to Chitose (CTS) on the northern island of Hokkaido, the most famous winter destination in all of Japan.
The Chicago to Tokyo route will operate year-round, with passengers traversing the Pacific on a Boeing 787-8. The San Francisco to Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport flight will operate from December to March three times a week, peak time for Hokkaido’s winter industry. Travelers can look forward to flying on a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner during the long-haul flight. The new nonstop flights to Sapporo will eliminate the need for transfer in Tokyo or Osaka, allowing travelers to experience Hokkaido’s rich snow culture all that much easier. Chitose Airport is within easy reach of a multitude of ski resorts, such as Niseko, Rusutsu, and Furano, just to name a few. Sapporo also hosts a world-renowned snow festival, and is famous for its hot springs, fresh seafood, and rich local Ainu culture. This island hosts a very distinct vibe compared to the rest of Japan, often compared to the “wild west” of Japan.
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These new routes will complement the existing United Airlines Chicago Tokyo-Haneda (HND) service. Haneda serves as the more convenient option for travelers looking to stay in the greater Tokyo area, while Narita offers great connectivity within the region. The airline says its strategy in adding new seasonal Hokkaido flights is to draw outdoor enthusiasts from around the world, while its Chicago-Tokyo flight focuses more on business and leisure connectivity. United plans to shift focus to its transpacific flights, following trends set across the flight industry. While initial post pandemic international travel routes tended to focus on Caribbean and European destinations, evolving travel preferences have demanded more transpacific routes.
The new Japanese flight destinations are an exciting addition for winter enthusiasts from across North America. United’s increase in the transpacific market will offer a multitude of options for travelers, potentially decreasing costs, which is a major factor in an already extremely expensive sport. With routes starting out of Chicago on October 24, travelers can feel free to start planning their fall and winter Japanese getaways.
