China Eastern Airlines is gearing up to launch the “world’s longest flight route” – a direct journey connecting Shanghai and Buenos Aires with a total air time of around 29 hours.
Spanning more than 12,500 miles – roughly equivalent to half the circumference of the entire Earth – the route will be operated by a Boeing 777-300ER. According to the Chinese carrier, the journey from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini International Airport (EZE) is planned to take around 25 hours and 30 minutes, with the return flight scheduled to stretch to whopping 29 hours.
Each leg involves a two-hour layover in Auckland, New Zealand, where, according to CNN, passengers are allowed to leave the plane and stretch. However, experts from Business Insider note that travellers will probably have to remain on board during the stop in Auckland. In any case, it means the flight is technically direct but not truly nonstop.
Scheduled to begin on 4 December 2025, the service will operate twice a week. Outbound flights from Shanghai to Buenos Aires will depart on Mondays and Thursdays, with return trips on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The world's longest flight route is about to launch! ✈️
— China Eastern Airlines (@CEAirglobal) September 15, 2025
On December 4, we will start our #BuenosAires–#Auckland–#Shanghai route. Take flights MU746/MU745 and soar 20,000 km in 25 hours, linking the antipodal cities across the globe.🌍🔗 #FlywithCEAir pic.twitter.com/5oS8oEKivQ
Ticket prices for December have already been published. Economy class fares are going for about €1,320 to €1,950 one-way (Shanghai – Buenos Aires), while business class tickets are around €4,300.
China Eastern Airlines described the journey as “the world’s first commercial route connecting antipodal cities,” as indeed these cities are situated on opposite sides of the planet. The airline has chosen an unconventional southern route, flying over some of the most remote waters and near Antarctica, which it says will reduce the total flight time by at least four hours.
China Eastern Airlines acaba de abrir la venta de tickets para la ruta directa más larga del mundo: Shanghái-Buenos Aires. A partir del 4 de diciembre, el vuelo MU745 tendrá una duración de casi 26 horas, con una escala en Auckland. La tarifa económica es de 12232 ¥ (1715 US$).✈️ pic.twitter.com/dRYOPVyVfv
— Embajada de China en Argentina (@ChinaEmbArg) September 9, 2025
“The Shanghai Pudong-Auckland-Buenos Aires route is seen as an important measure to build a new ‘Air Silk Road’ channel between Asia-Pacific and South America,” the airline stated.
According to booking platform Skyscanner, the fastest flights from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, operated by Air France and Lufthansa, take nearly 31 hours with a stopover in Paris or Amsterdam. On the return leg, travel times vary slightly, ranging from just over 28 hours to 33 hours depending on the airline.
Although the Shanghai – Buenos Aires route sets the longest duration of any direct flight, there is nuance: because of the stop in Auckland, some experts assume it may not overtake current non-stop flights in that category. For comparison, Singapore Airlines’ nonstop flight from Singapore Changi to New York JFK remains one of the world’s longest, lasting roughly 18-19 hours and spanning about 15,349 kilometres (9,540 miles).
China Eastern lanzará este año el vuelo más largo del mundo entre Shanghái y Buenos Aires. Son 29 horas. Eso sí, con una parada técnica en Nueva Zelanda en la que los pasajeros no podrán salir del avión. pic.twitter.com/Srzfzke8wL
— Zigor Aldama 齐戈 (@zigoraldama) September 17, 2025
However, the new route provides direct travel options between Asia and South America, significantly cutting travel time and the number of connections for passengers on these long-haul journeys. It also underscores China Eastern’s ambition to expand the boundaries of ultra-long-haul aviation.
The introduction of this route follows a growing trend in ultra-long-haul aviation. Australia’s national carrier, Qantas, is advancing “Project Sunrise,” an initiative focused on designing aircraft optimised for passenger comfort on ultra-long-haul flights. The airline has long aimed to operate nonstop services between Sydney and London, covering roughly 16,100 kilometres (10,000 miles), which can take up to 20 hours. The project is now expected to be unveiled in 2027.
