Air Canada (AC) has announced the launch of its first-ever winter seasonal service to Sapporo, marking a strategic expansion of the carrier’s Asia–Pacific network and its growing focus on destination-driven long-haul travel. The service will connect Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver, with New Chitose Airport (CTS), Sapporo, beginning in the 2025–26 winter season, according to the airline’s official disclosure.
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The route aims to capitalize on surging demand for winter tourism to Hokkaido, a region globally recognized for its ski resorts, culinary culture, and seasonal festivals. Air Canada stated that the service is designed to strengthen Canada–Japan connectivity while diversifying its winter long-haul portfolio beyond traditional sun destinations.
Airline overview: Air Canada
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Airline | Air Canada |
| IATA / ICAO | AC / ACA |
| Founded | 1937 |
| Headquarters | Montréal, Canada |
| Primary hubs | Toronto Pearson (YYZ), Montréal–Trudeau (YUL), Vancouver (YVR) |
| Fleet size | ~200 aircraft |
| Alliance | Star Alliance |
| Long-haul focus | Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America |
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Air Canada Vancouver–Sapporo Route Details
The winter seasonal service will operate between Vancouver and Sapporo (airports), positioning YVR as a key trans-Pacific gateway for Canadian travelers heading to northern Japan. Air Canada confirmed that the route will operate during peak winter months, aligning with Hokkaido’s ski season and major cultural events.
Here are the flight details:
| Attribute | AC55 | AC54 |
|---|---|---|
| Route | Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver → New Chitose Airport (CTS), Sapporo | New Chitose Airport (CTS), Sapporo → Vancouver International Airport (YVR), Vancouver |
| Departure time | 13:25 | 19:55 |
| Arrival time | 15:35 (+1 day) | 11:10 |
| Days of operation | Monday, Thursday, Saturday | Tuesday, Friday, Sunday |
| Operating season | December 17, 2026 – March 25, 2027 | December 18, 2026 – March 26, 2027 |
According to the airline, the route complements existing services to Tokyo Haneda and Osaka Kansai, expanding geographic coverage in Japan while reducing reliance on metropolitan gateways alone.
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Aircraft Type and Deployment on the Sapporo Service
Air Canada confirmed that the route will be operated using widebody aircraft from its long-haul fleet, optimized for trans-Pacific operations and winter reliability. While the airline has not disclosed a final subtype allocation, similar Asia services typically utilize the Boeing 787 Dreamliner family.
Air Canada Boeing 787 fleet Snapshot
| Metric | Data |
|---|---|
| Total Boeing 787s operated | 40 |
| Variants | 787-8, 787-9 |
| Average fleet age | 9 |
| Oldest aircraft | 11.9 years |
| Youngest aircraft | 0.9 years |
Riyadh Air’s Boeing 787 fleet consists of three variants with varying numbers and ages.
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The airline currently operates seven Boeing 787-8 Dreamliners, with one more on order, bringing the total to eight aircraft, each averaging 11.4 years in age. Here’s a look at the details:
| Registration | Delivery Date | Fleet Number | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-GHPQ | May 2014 | 801 | 11.8 Years |
| C-GHPT | Jun 2014 | 802 | 11.7 Years |
| C-GHPU | Jul 2014 | 803 | 11.5 Years |
| C-GHPV | Sep 2014 | 804 | 11.4 Years |
| C-GHPX | Oct 2014 | 805 | 11.3 Years |
| C-GHPY | Nov 2014 | 806 | 11.3 Years |
| C-GHQQ | Jan 2015 | 807 | 11.1 Years |
| C-GHQY | Feb 2015 | 808 | 11 Years |
Air Canada has said that it will offer Boeing 787 Dreamliner services to Hokkaido with a choice of Signature Class, Premium Economy and Economy- soemthing it does offer in the 787-8s configured in the following way:
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Business: 20 seats, 78″ pitch, 21″ width, 180° recline. Offers a luxurious and practical experience with gourmet meals, personalized service, and rich entertainment.
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Premium Economy: 21 seats, 38″ pitch, 19″ width, 7″ recline. Provides extra space, enhanced comfort, and an elevated in-flight experience.
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Economy: 214 seats, 31″ pitch, 17″ width, 5″ recline. Delivers a modern cabin with essential comforts and attentive service for all passengers.
According to data from planespotters.net, Air Canada Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner fleet is larger, comprising 29 aircraft in service and three on order, totaling 32, with an average age of 8.4 years.
Meanwhile, the Boeing 787-10 Dreamliner segment is smaller, with two aircraft on order and none yet in service. The fleet’s composition reflects Riyadh Air’s focus on combining long-range capacity with a modern, efficient aircraft lineup.
| Registration | Line Number | Delivery Date | Age |
|---|---|---|---|
| C-FNOE | C30W21Y247 | Jul 2015 | 10.5 Years |
| C-FNOG | C30W21Y247 | Aug 2015 | 10.4 Years |
| C-FNOH | C30W21Y247 | Nov 2015 | 10.2 Years |
| C-FNOI | C30W21Y247 | Dec 2015 | 10.1 Years |
| C-FGDT | C30W21Y247 | Feb 2016 | 10 Years |
| C-FGDX | C30W21Y247 | Mar 2016 | 9.9 Years |
| C-FGDZ | C30W21Y247 | Mar 2016 | 9.9 Years |
| C-FGEI | C30W21Y247 | Mar 2016 | 9.9 Years |
| C-FGEO | C30W21Y247 | Apr 2016 | 9.8 Years |
| C-FGFZ | C30W21Y247 | Apr 2016 | 9.8 Years |
| C-FPQB | C30W21Y247 | May 2016 | 9.7 Years |
| C-FGHZ | C30W21Y247 | May 2016 | 9.7 Years |
| C-FKSV | C30W21Y247 | Jun 2016 | 9.6 Years |
| C-FRSA | C30W21Y247 | Jan 2017 | 9.1 Years |
| C-FRSE | C30W21Y247 | Jan 2017 | 9 Years |
| C-FRSI | C30W21Y247 | Feb 2017 | 9 Years |
| C-FRSO | C30W21Y247 | Mar 2017 | 8.9 Years |
| C-FRSR | C30W21Y247 | May 2017 | 8.7 Years |
| C-FRTG | C30W21Y247 | May 2017 | 8.7 Years |
| C-FRTU | C30W21Y247 | Jun 2017 | 8.7 Years |
| C-FRTW | C30W21Y247 | Jun 2017 | 8.6 Years |
| C-FSBV | C30W21Y247 | Oct 2017 | 8.3 Years |
| C-FVLQ | C30W21Y247 | Jan 2018 | 8.1 Years |
| C-FVLU | C30W21Y247 | Feb 2018 | 8 Years |
| C-FVLX | C30W21Y247 | Feb 2018 | 8 Years |
| C-FVLZ | C30W21Y247 | May 2018 | 7.8 Years |
| C-FVNB | C30W21Y247 | May 2018 | 7.7 Years |
| C-FVND | C30W21Y247 | Feb 2019 | 6.9 Years |
| C-FVNF | C30W21Y247 | Apr 2019 | 6.8 Years |
| C-GWUU | C30W21Y247 | Apr 2023 | 2.8 Years |
| C-GYJW | C30W21Y247 | Jan 2024 | 2 Years |
| C-FEGI | C30W21Y247 | Apr 2025 | 0.9 Years |
Just as the 787-8s, Air Canada’s Boeing 787-9 is configured in the following way:
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Business: 30 seats, 78″ pitch, 21″ width, 180° recline. Offers modern luxury with opulent seating, state-of-the-art entertainment, and exceptional personalized service.
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Premium Economy: 21 seats, 38″ pitch, 19″ width, 7″ recline. Provides enhanced comfort, superior seating, and an upgraded entertainment experience for a delightful flight.
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Economy: 247 seats, 31″ pitch, 17″ width, 5″ recline. Features modern amenities, comfortable seating, and attentive service to ensure a smooth journey.
Why Sapporo: Winter Tourism and Demand Fundamentals
Sapporo serves as the primary gateway to Hokkaido, one of Asia’s most prominent winter tourism regions. The area is internationally recognised for its powder snow, ski infrastructure, and events such as the Sapporo Snow Festival, which attracts millions of visitors annually.
Mark Galardo, Executive Vice President & Chief Commercial Officer, and President, Cargo, said that the carrier’s “global network is further strengthened by the addition of Sapporo“, which is:
“…a premier winter leisure destination in Japan’s northern Hokkaido prefecture. With this new service, Air Canada is reinforcing its Vancouver hub as North America’s second largest Pacific gateway, building on strong premium leisure and ongoing travel demand to Japan, while providing yet another sought-after destination for our customers and Aeroplan Members. Whether people are avid snow enthusiasts, cultural or culinary connoisseurs, or global explorers, Air Canada’s new service will make discovering Japan’s vibrant northern regions more convenient than ever,”
Air Canada specifically highlighted culinary and cultural appeal — including ramen culture and regional beer heritage. Some of the offerings of Air Canada between Canada and Japan include:
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Air Canada has added Michelin-starred Chef Masaki Hashimoto to its culinary panel.
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Chef Hashimoto’s dishes are featured in the airline’s Signature Class dining experience.
Similar Winter Route Launches by Global Airlines
Air Canada’s Sapporo announcement is not a singular one. Even Qantas announced services to Sapporo last year.
| Airline | Route / Region | Season | Strategic Rationale |
|---|---|---|---|
| Finnair | Increased flights to Rovaniemi, Ivalo, Kittilä, Kuusamo (Lapland, Finland) | Winter 2025/26 | Expanded capacity to Arctic and ski destinations, reflecting strong winter leisure demand; record weekly frequencies to Rovaniemi and other Lapland cities. |
| Eurowings | New winter routes from Berlin to Rovaniemi, Düsseldorf–Ivalo, Düsseldorf–Kuusamo | Winter 2025/26 | Enhances access to Finnish Lapland for winter tourism, serving multiple Arctic airports from Germany. |
| Lufthansa | Frankfurt → Rovaniemi seasonal services (and other European winter adjustments) | Winter season (2025/26) | Added Lapland connection as part of broader winter schedule expansion to leisure-oriented destinations. |
| Austrian Airlines | Vienna → Ivalo seasonal flights | Winter season (2024/25) | New winter route to Finnish Lapland ski and Arctic tourism gateway. |
| Discover Airlines | Frankfurt → Alta (Norway), Frankfurt → Kittilä | Winter 2024/25 | Expanded northern seasonal network to Arctic and winter leisure markets. |
| Qantas | Sydney → Sapporo seasonal route | Winter 2025/26 | Seasonal flights targeting Australia’s growing appetite for Japan ski tourism. |
| TUI (Cardiff → Salzburg) | Cardiff → Salzburg | Winter 2025/26 | Resumed direct winter ski route after decades, supporting access to Austrian ski resorts. |