China Eastern Airlines Launches World’s Longest Direct Flight Covering Almost 20,000 km Journey from Shanghai to Buenos Aires with a Stunning Twenty Nine-Hour Adventure, Connecting Asia, Oceania, and South America!

Published on December 5, 2025

The globe just got a little smaller. On 4 December 2025, China Eastern Airlines (CEA) launched a historic new schedule: a single‑aircraft, two‑continents‑spanning flight linking Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) in China with Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) in Buenos Aires, Argentina — via a scheduled technical stop at Auckland Airport (AKL), New Zealand. The route officially enters service as the world’s longest direct commercial passenger flight.

Covering nearly 20,000 km and connecting the industrial powerhouse of Shanghai to the vibrant culture and European‑style streets of Buenos Aires — with a brief interlude in the scenic harbours of Auckland — this flight represents a quantum leap in global long‑haul connectivity.

A Record‑Breaker for the Skies

According to CEA and multiple aviation‑industry reports, the one‑way journey from Shanghai to Buenos Aires spans approximately 20,000 kilometres, setting a new standard in scheduled air travel.

The airline’s documentation indicates that flights will operate twice weekly using Boeing 777‑300ER aircraft. The inaugural flight — flight number MU745 — departed from Shanghai Pudong in the early hours of 4 December, embarking on the 25‑to‑26‑hour marathon across hemispheres.

On the return leg, prevailing headwinds extend the travel time to nearly 29 hours, making the journey one of the longest in commercial aviation history in terms of duration.

What Makes It “Direct”? The Auckland Stop That Doesn’t Break the Journey

A key detail: while the aircraft touches down in Auckland for refuelling and crew change, passengers remain aboard — meaning there is no change of aircraft or flight number. This allows the route to qualify as a “direct” flight rather than a “non‑stop”.

The two‑hour technological stop at Auckland is therefore not considered a layover in the conventional sense. It’s a technical stop — a strategic pause that keeps the integrity of a single‑aircraft journey while enabling this ambitious trans‑Pacific connection.

Official Green Light: Regulatory Clearance and Global South Connectivity

Legal and regulatory clearance came through when the government of Argentina — via its aviation authority — formally authorized the new route. Published in its Official Gazette under Disposition 42/2025, approval covers passenger and cargo operations, marking the first regular air link between China and Argentina.

This milestone underscores more than just a new flight route — it signals growing connectivity between major economies on different sides of the world, and a strengthening of ties within the Global South. Chinese media described it as “a new chapter for Global South cooperation,” emphasising how the flight bridges Northern and Southern Hemispheres and Eastern and Western hemispheres in a single journey.

What This Means for Travellers — and Tourism

For travellers and globetrotters, this route offers a direct, relatively streamlined way to travel between East Asia and South America — often previously only possible via multiple stopovers in North America or Europe. By shaving off hours and eliminating layover hassles, CEA has opened up a new corridor that could dramatically change travel patterns.

More than just convenience: for leisure travellers, this invites long‑haul adventure. Imagine starting in the sleek, futuristic skyline of Shanghai, pausing barely for refuel in Auckland’s harbour city, then landing in the sultry tango rhythms and European‑inspired architecture of Buenos Aires. For South American travellers heading to Asia, it also simplifies one of the longest intercontinental journeys on Earth.

For tourism in Argentina and New Zealand, this may inject fresh momentum. New‑Zealand’s hub becomes a vital bridge, offering a tie‑in for travellers — whether they choose to just transit or add a side‑trip stopover at AKL.

Challenges and Realities: Not Quite “Non‑Stop”, and Still a Marathon

It’s important to note — this flight, while “direct”, is not “non‑stop.” The scheduled stop in Auckland is essential for refuelling and operational reasons; no aircraft currently flies the full distance non-stop. Critics and aviation watchers caution against using “non-stop” to describe the route.

The flight’s duration — up to 29 hours on return — is extreme. For many travellers, even seasoned long‑haul flyers, this will test endurance, comfort and cabin tolerance. Economy‑class travellers may find the journey particularly taxing, while business or first‑class passengers may fare better. According to airline data, the Boeing 777‑300ER on this route carries over 300 passengers across three classes: first, business and economy.

Moreover, while the route is now legally authorised and operational, the long‑term viability will depend on demand, seasonality, pricing, and how well airlines and airports manage transit operations.

The Bigger Picture: A New Era in Intercontinental Travel

This service has strategic significance beyond tourism. It deepens trade connectivity, enables faster business travel, and contributes to more integrated Global South cooperation. It redefines what “direct route” means in the era of wide‑body jets and changing global geopolitics.

For travellers, it offers a once‑unimaginable journey: from the neon-lit streets of Shanghai to the old‑world charm of Buenos Aires, passing briefly through Auckland’s scenic port — all under one ticket, one aircraft, one itinerary.

Final Thought — A Flight That Connects Worlds

For any wanderer reading this — the Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires route isn’t just a flight, it’s a bridge. A bridge between continents, cultures, and hemispheres.

The first passengers who stepped off that Boeing 777‑300ER in Buenos Aires may have disembarked after nearly a day in the air — but what they gained was a new world unlocked. A world where East meets South, where Asia tangos with South America, where New Zealand becomes the pit stop on an intercontinental odyssey.

For global travellers, business‑minds, cultural explorers and dreamers alike — the skies just got a little more open.