After a journey of nearly 26 hours, passengers aboard a China Eastern Airlines flight from Shanghai arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina close at 4:45 pm on December 4, 2025. Not only is it the first direct commercial flight between China and Argentina, it is currently the longest commercially operated passenger air route. The flight stops at Auckland, New Zealand, for refueling, crew rotation and to allow passengers a break.
The new southern flight path via New Zealand is around 20,000 kilometers long.
Operated by a Boeing-777 300ER, the inaugural flight carried 282 passengers. Celebrations were held in Shanghai and Buenos Aires, as well as in Auckland. “This new route fills the gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities,” China Eastern Airlines said in a statement. The new route is expected to boost trade and tourism, and help the increasing East Asian diaspora who live in South America.
Twice-weekly outbound flights from Shanghai will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, and the return from Buenos Aires operates on Tuesdays and Fridays. The return leg takes an additional four hours.
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