Qantas is ramping up its popular Sydney-Sapporo route with a 50% capacity boost for the 2026/27 Northern Hemisphere winter season, adding over 10,000 seats to meet surging demand from Australian snow seekers flocking to Hokkaido’s legendary powder fields.
Record Japan Travel Fuels Expansion
Fresh data from the Japan National Tourism Organisation shows over one million Australians visited Japan in 2025 — a 15% jump from the previous record year, including 121,300 during the December school holidays alone. Qantas, the sole provider of direct Sydney-Sapporo flights since launching seasonally in December 2025, has already carried nearly 10,000 passengers midway through the current season.
This non-stop link — marking Sapporo as Qantas’s 100th international destination — responds to exceptional performance by expanding from three weekly flights to up to five during peak periods, delivering nearly 35,000 total seats between the cities.
Enhanced Schedule for Peak Ski Season
The upgraded timetable targets Hokkaido’s prime snow months:
- 7–15 December 2026: Three weekly (Mon, Wed, Sat)
- 16 December 2026–31 January 2027: Up to five weekly (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun)
- 1–28 February 2027: Four weekly (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat)
- 1–31 March 2027: Three weekly (Mon, Wed, Sat)
Return Economy fares start at AUD$1,473 via qantas.com, offering seamless access to Japan’s premier ski resorts like Niseko and Rusutsu.
Qantas Commits to Japan Growth
“Since launching Sydney-Sapporo last month, customer response has been incredibly strong,” said Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace. “Japan is a key focus in Asia. These extra flights strengthen ties between our nations and give Australians more direct access to Hokkaido’s snow.”
Book now at Qantas.com to secure your spot on Australia’s gateway to Japan’s winter wonderland.
