A sharp rise in demand for travel between California and Japan is prompting a major international carrier to expand service from San Diego, with daily nonstop flights set to begin this summer.
San Diego International Airport (SAN) announced that Japan Airlines (JAL) will increase its nonstop service between San Diego and Tokyo’s Narita International Airport starting August 1.
The route, which currently operates four times a week, will expand to daily service as interest in travel between San Diego and Asia continues to climb, according to the airport.
Airport officials said passenger traffic between San Diego and Asia grew 42% from 2023 to 2025, driven by tourism, business travel and visits to family and friends.
“JAL has operated nonstop service between San Diego and Tokyo since 2012,” said Atif Saeed, president and CEO of the San Diego County Regional Airport Authority.
“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.”
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Travelers flying from San Diego to Tokyo-Narita will also be able to connect to more than a dozen destinations across Asia, officials said.
Tickets for the expanded service are now on sale, according to the announcement.
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.
