If Japan’s powder paradise is calling your name, Qantas just made answering that call a whole lot easier. Off the back of surging demand from Australian travellers, the Flying Kangaroo has announced a major capacity increase on its popular Sydney–Sapporo route for the 2026/27 season.
More Flights, More Seats, More Snow
Starting next season, Qantas will expand the service from three to up to five flights per week, delivering a 50%+ increase in capacity and adding more than 10,000 extra seats. In total, nearly 35,000 seats will connect Sydney and Sapporo during the season—perfect timing for travellers chasing Hokkaido’s famously fluffy powder.
The boost follows impressive demand for the newly launched route. Since kicking off flights in December 2025, Qantas reports the service is performing exceptionally well, with almost 10,000 customers carried halfway through the current season alone.
Australians Are Flocking to Japan
Recent figures from the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) show just how strong the Japan travel trend remains. More than one million Australians visited Japan in 2025, a 15% jump from the previous record year. The December holiday period and start of ski season were especially busy, bringing in 121,300 Australian visitors.
With enthusiasm for Japan at an all‑time high, extra seats on one of the country’s premier winter routes couldn’t come at a better time.
The Only Non‑Stop Connection to Sapporo
Qantas remains the only carrier offering non-stop flights between Sydney and Sapporo. The seasonal route, launched in December 2025, also marked the airline’s 100th international destination and has helped drive tourism in both directions.
What Qantas Is Saying
Qantas International CEO Cam Wallace shared the airline’s excitement around the route’s performance and future growth:
Since launching flights from Sydney to Sapporo last month the response from customers has been incredibly strong. We’re only halfway through the current season and already we’ve carried almost 10,000 customers on the route and demand is high for the rest of the season.
Japan remains a key focus for Qantas in the Asia region. By adding more flights next season, it cements our dedication to strengthening ties between our two countries and gives Australian travellers more choice and seamless direct access to Hokkaido’s snow.
Fares & Schedule
Return Economy fares from Sydney to Sapporo start from AUD $1,473 on qantas.com.
2026/27 QF107 Sydney → Sapporo Seasonal Schedule
- 7–15 December 2026: 3 flights per week (Mon, Wed, Sat)
- 16 December 2026 – 31 January 2027: Up to 5 flights per week (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat, Sun)
- 1–28 February 2027: 4 flights per week (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sat)
- 1–31 March 2027: 3 flights per week (Mon, Wed, Sat)
