What’s it like to cross almost half the planet in a single flight route? The flight considered the longest in the world recently made its maiden voyage, lasting around 29 hours and covering around 20,000 kilometers, thus consolidating a new level for long-distance trade routes.
Opened on Thursday (4), the route operated by China Eastern Airlines departed from Shanghai, China, and landed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Although not a completely direct route, the flight included a two-hour technical stopover in Auckland, New Zealand, significantly reducing the need for multiple connections compared to traditional routes.
At the start of the operation, passengers were accommodated in a Boeing 777-300ER with a capacity of 316 people, an aircraft which will operate the route twice a week throughout the year. The flight departed Pudong International Airport at 2 a.m. local time and arrived at Ezeiza International Airport at 4:45 p.m., ten minutes ahead of schedule.
The company described the new route as “the first commercial link between cities in the Antipodes”, noting that the Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires route is considered part of a new air corridor between the Asia-Pacific and South America. According to the company, the initiative “fills a historic gap” by creating a direct channel between the major centers of the two regions.
Before the inauguration, the trip from China to Argentina typically took more than 30 hours and required several stops. According to data published by the specialist site Simply Flying, more than 55,000 people born in China currently live in Argentina, forming one of the fastest growing communities in the South American country, which reinforces the demand for more direct connections.
Ticket prices for the new route range on average between $1,525 and $2,254 in economy class (approximately $8,235 to $12,171), while business class can cost around $4,994 (approximately $26,968), reflecting the cost and complexity of operations of this size.
The movement follows a global trend. With lighter, more fuel-efficient planes, Qantas announced it would launch new ultra-long-haul services from 2026, including a direct flight of around 20 hours between London and Sydney, as part of Project Sunrise.
The initiative uses customized versions of the Airbus A350-1000, already scheduled for delivery in October 2026, and envisages routes such as Sydney-London and Sydney-New York, with additional fuel tanks to cover around 16,900 kilometers. Today, the company already operates one of the longest direct flights in the world, the route between London and Perth, lasting around 17 and a half hours.
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