Sydney to Sapporo: Qantas launches new Japan route for ski bunnies

Qantas is launching a new seasonal service from Sydney to renowned Japanese snow destination, Sapporo. It’s the only non-stop connection between the two cities and is designed to cater to the growing demand for travel to Japan’s iconic snowfields. Sapporo’s New Chitose Airport, in Hokkaido, is a key airport for skiers and snowboarders to access the prefecture’s many ski resorts, including those popular among Kiwis and Aussies such as Niseko, Rusutsu, Kiroro and Furano. The region is famous for its powder skiing, thanks to the cold winds that come across from Siberia, dumping consistent dry snow on Hokkaido’s mountains. Currently, Kiwi skiers and snowboarders typically fly to Sapporo via Tokyo or other ports in Asia, including Beijing, Seoul and Hong Kong. This new connection will allow them to pop across the ditch first before a direct flight to the popular snow hub. Sapporo will become Qantas’ 100th destination, with flights to get underway from December 2025, until March 28 2026. Services will operate three times a week on an Airbus A330-200, departing Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, with a flight time of around 10 hours and 50 minutes. It will depart Sydney in the morning and arrive at New Chitose early evening.<br/>