Air Canada Launches Only North American Flight to Popular Japanese Ski Destination

Updated: June 4, 2026, 3:37am CDT

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Table of Contents

Air Canada’s New Route From Vancouver to Sapporo
How To Book Flights To Ski in Sapporo, Japan
Final Thoughts

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Winter sports fans will love this one.

Air Canada is launching the only nonstop flight from North America to the epicentre of Japan’s world-renowned ski region. The new seasonal route from Vancouver (YVR) to Sapporo (CTS) starts in December this year.

“Leveraging Vancouver’s geographic proximity, Air Canada’s new flights provide the fastest way to reach Sapporo, saving more than two hours travel time each way,” said Mark Galardo, executive vice president and chief commercial officer for Air Canada.

Here are the details you need to know.

Air Canada’s New Route From Vancouver to Sapporo

Air Canada‘s new winter route announcement is timed perfectly to start planning ahead for next winter’s break.

The Canadian flag carrier’s new seasonal service to Sapporo will operate between December 17, 2026, and March 26, 2027. Flights will depart on Mondays, Thursdays, and Saturdays to Sapporo, returning to Vancouver on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays.

The schedule is as follows:

Depart Vancouver (YVR) at 1:25 p.m. and arrive in Sapporo (CTS) at 3:35 p.m. (+1)
Depart Sapporo (CTS) at 7:55 p.m. and arrive in Vancouver (YVR) at 11:10 a.m.

Thanks to Air Canada’s strong network of routes from Vancouver (YVR) to 18 U.S. cities, this new route offers an exciting option for U.S.-based skiers, too.

Without Air Canada’s nonstop route from Vancouver, most options from the U.S. would involve 2 layovers rather than just 1.

The airline’s fleet of Boeing 787 Dreamliners will operate the new route.

How To Book Flights To Ski in Sapporo, Japan

Air Canada has already opened bookings for the new route.

Clocking in at $1,179,round-trip fares in economy are reasonable. Here’s an example from Los Angeles (LAX) to Sapporo via Air Canada’s new route from Vancouver:

LAX to Sapporo with Air Canada — Image Credit: Air Canada

You can also book with Air Canda’s Aeroplan points. The cheapest we found for one-way redemptions were 48.9k in economy, 96k in premium, and 185.6k in business.

Air Canada Aeroplan redemption Sapporo — Image Credit: Air Canada

Rates could be lower in the future, but for now, they don’t provide great value for your Aeroplan points.

Hot Tip:

If you live in the U.S. and make frequent trips across the border to Canada, the Aeroplan’s credit card might be well-suited to your wallet. It awards you with bonus points and additional perks and benefits when flying Air Canada.

Final Thoughts

Skiing in Japan requires a little more planning than most other winter adventure destinations. Thanks to Air Canada’s new nonstop service to Sapporo from Vancouver, getting there and back should be a little simpler and quicker from wherever you are in North America. Here’s hoping the redemption rates come down sooner, rather than later.