Add The California Post on Google A massive surge in demand for flights from California to Japan has sparked a major airline to offer non-stop flights daily to the region starting this summer.
The San Diego International Airport (SAN) said that Japan airlines (JAL) will begin offering more non-stop flights from the city to Tokyo’s Narita International Airport, starting August 1.
The number of flights from SAN To Narita will go from four-times a week to daily to seven, as demand for travel between the area and Asia continues to grow, per the release.
Officials said that between 2023 and 2025, there had been an increase of passenger travel by 42% between San Diego and Asia, with travelers wanting to get to the area for tourism, business, and see family/friends.
“JAL has operated nonstop service between San Diego and Tokyo since 2012,” Atif Saeed, President and CEO, San Diego County Regional Airport Authority, said.
“Since the route launched, more than 30 Japanese companies have invested approximately $8.7 billion in San Diego County. With deep economic and defense ties between our regions, increased air service will further strengthen these valuable relationships.”
Officials said that passengers traveling from San Diego to Tokyo-Narita airport can connect to more than a dozen destinations across Asia.
In May, San Francisco International Airport announced it was doing the similar by offering travelers non-stop flights from the Bay Area to Japan’s top skiing destinations in Sapporo.
United will offer three direct flights weekly from San Francisco International Airport to Sapporo on the island of Hokkaido starting in December 2026 — marking the first nonstop service from the continental US to the Japanese city.
The service runs through March 27 with flights offered during the peak winter season to Sapporo, which is a “snow metropolis” boasting several popular ski resorts, according to the city’s tourism website.
The city boasts numerous ski resorts, including Sapporo Kokusai Skiing Resort, Sapporo Teine, Sapporo Moiwayama Ski Area, Sapporo Bankei Ski Area and more.
“Whether customers are dreaming of skiing in Sapporo, planning a business trip to Tokyo with some exploration added in, or an even bigger adventure across Asia, United gives travelers more ways to get there than any U.S. airline,” Patrick Quayle, Senior Vice President of Network Planning and Global Alliances, United Airlines said in the release.
Flights starting in December for the 11-hour trip will cost $1,500, climbing to $1,700 by March, according to the airline.
