The world’s longest commercial flight has officially taken off, marking a significant milestone for long-haul travel. Spanning 29 hours and covering 12,400 miles, this new route is a game-changer for travelers who prefer to avoid layovers. Launched on December 4 by China Eastern Airlines, the flight connects Shanghai with Buenos Aires. The journey from China to Argentina clocks in at over 25 hours, with the return trip extending the travel time by an additional four hours.
Although the route includes a two-hour stopover in Auckland, New Zealand, it’s a testament to the growing trend of ultra-long-haul flights, characterized by durations exceeding 16 hours. On its inaugural run, passengers boarded the spacious Boeing 777-300ER, which boasts 316 seats and operates twice weekly throughout the year. Departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2 a.m. local time, the flight touched down at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires at 4:45 p.m. local time, arriving ten minutes ahead of schedule.
China Eastern Airlines has hailed the route as “the world’s first commercial flight linking antipodal cities.” The company describes the Shanghai Pudong-Auckland-Buenos Aires connection as a vital step in developing a new “Air Silk Road” between the Asia-Pacific region and South America. Ticket prices for this groundbreaking journey range from £1,130 to £1,670 ($1,525 to $2,254) for economy class, while business class seats are available for around £3,700 ($4,994). Previously, travelers making the trek between China and Argentina faced journeys exceeding 30 hours, making this new direct route a welcome innovation.
The trip would usually involve connecting flights and layovers. More than 55,000 people born in China live in the South American country and comprise one of Argentina’s fastest-growing communities, according to data from Simply Flying. In a statement, China Eastern said: ‘This new route fills the gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities. ‘It opens a “southbound corridor” connecting opposite ends of the Pacific and reshapes air travel between three continents.’
As aviation technology improves, aircraft are lighter and more fuel-efficient, and 2026 will see Australian airline Qantas unveil more ultra-long-haul services, including a 20-hour non-stop flight between London and Sydney. Dubbed Project Sunrise, the name was inspired by WWII endurance flights, where those on board saw dawn more than once during one journey. The bespoke version of the A350-1000 aircraft is set to be delivered in October 2026, with the first routes set to be Sydney to London and Sydney to New York, and the aircraft armed with additional fuel tanks to handle the roughly 10,500 miles between the two destinations. The airline currently already has one of the world’s longest direct flights, a 17-and-a-half-hour slog that connects London with Perth.
