The world’s longest commercial flight route — spanning 29 hours and covering 12,400 miles — has officially begun operations, following China Eastern Airlines’ milestone journey from Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland.
Record-setting journey across three continents
The inaugural flight departed Shanghai at 2 a.m. on 4 December and landed 10 minutes early at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires at 4.45 p.m. local time. The 316-seat Boeing 777-300ER made a scheduled stop in Auckland, New Zealand, for refuelling and crew rotation — a technical pause that prevents it from being classified as the world’s longest non-stop flight.
However, with the outbound and return legs combined, the Shanghai–Buenos Aires service now stands as the world’s longest commercial flight route, surpassing Singapore Airlines’ famed New York–Singapore connection.
Celebrations in Shanghai, Auckland and Buenos Aires
Ceremonies were held in all three cities to mark the start of the new route. Auckland hosted an official welcome, highlighting the significance of the service in linking major Asia-Pacific and South American hubs.
China Eastern Airlines said the route fills an important gap in connectivity between East Asia and South America and serves Argentina’s growing East Asian diaspora.
A new ‘southbound corridor’
In a statement, the airline said the new service “opens a southbound corridor connecting opposite ends of the Pacific and reshapes air travel between three continents.”
The twice-weekly service aims to strengthen economic, cultural and tourism ties between China and South America, offering travellers a direct air bridge previously unavailable between Shanghai and major cities across the region.
Long-haul competition intensifies
The launch places China Eastern at the top of long-distance commercial aviation rankings, ahead of Singapore Airlines’ 19-hour New York–Singapore service. Meanwhile, Australian carrier Qantas is gearing up for its ambitious Project Sunrise flights, planned to connect Sydney with London and New York from 2027. The aircraft will feature extended fuel capacity, enabling up to 22 hours non-stop and covering more than 10,500 miles.