China Eastern to launch world’s longest direct flight linking China and Argentina
September 15, 2025
China Eastern Airlines (CEA) will launch the world’s longest direct flight by total origin-to-destination distance in December, with a new twice-weekly service connecting Shanghai Pudong (PVG) with Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE) via Auckland (AKL).
The new route is set to begin on December 4, 2025, and will operate on the airline’s Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.
New international land-sea trade corridor through Auckland
In June, CEA and Auckland Airport signed a cooperation agreement creating a “new international land-sea trade corridor,” which would provide the only direct air link between China and Argentina.
The signing ceremony in Shanghai was attended by senior executives from China Eastern and Auckland Airport, alongside New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon and Tourism Minister Louise Upston.
The service is expected to cut total travel time by 4–5 hours compared to traditional connections via Europe or North America, which typically involve longer routings and more complex transfers.
Another advantage for passengers is the reduced time zone difference. Travellers connecting through Auckland face a four-hour time difference between China and Argentina, compared with 12 hours on Western routings, which eases jet lag.
Prime Minister Luxon also announced that New Zealand will implement a visa-free transit policy for Chinese travellers passing through Auckland.
Flying from Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland
China Eastern will operate outbound flight MU745 on Mondays and Thursdays, with a 2:00 am departure from Shanghai, landing in Auckland at 6:30 pm. The flight departs Auckland for Buenos Aires at 8:30 pm on Mondays and 8:55 pm on Thursdays, arriving at 4:30 pm and 4:55 pm, respectively.
The return flights, MU746, depart Buenos Aires on Tuesdays and Fridays at 2:00 a.m., arriving in Auckland at 8:40 a.m. They then leave for Shanghai at 10:40 a.m., arriving at 6:00 p.m.
The airline is expected to open the flights for reservations soon.
China Eastern will pursue fifth freedom traffic rights
The airline plans to apply for fifth freedom traffic rights for this route. If granted, these rights would allow China Eastern to carry passengers and cargo between Auckland and Buenos Aires as part of the service, boosting economic, trade, and people-to-people exchanges across New Zealand, China, and Argentina.
Currently, CEA operates services from Auckland to both Shanghai Pudong and Hangzhou Xiaoshan. Following the launch of the Buenos Aires route, the airline intends to increase Auckland–Shanghai frequencies from seven to nine flights per week, marking a further expansion of its China–New Zealand capacity.
Inside the China Eastern 777-300ER connecting Shanghai and Buenos Aires
The China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER offers three classes of service, with six first-class suites, 52 business-class seats, and 258 economy seats in the main cabin.
The first-class suites feature an electric window shade, a privacy door, and a wardrobe wide enough to hang a coat, plus a shallow storage cubby beneath the ottoman. The seats are 26.5″ wide and convert to a 78″ long, fully flat bed. The in-flight entertainment system features a 24″ HD screen. Power is available via a universal AC and USB-A sockets. There are no overhead bins in this cabin, and baggage is stowed in a locker located at the front of the cabin.
Business class features Safran Cirrus II seats with an open shelf for storing small personal items, as well as small storage compartments beneath the armrest and footrest. The seat is 20.33″ wide with a 75”-long, fully flat bed, and the seats are set 43” apart. The in-flight entertainment system features a 15.4″ HD touchscreen display, and power is available through Universal AC and USB-A sockets.
The airline’s economy main cabin is arranged in a 3-4-3 configuration. Seats are 17.05” wide and set 32” apart, offering a 6” recline. Each seat has a bi-fold table and an independent cup holder. The in-flight entertainment screen features a 10.6” HD touchscreen display, and there is a USB-A socket for power.
The airline’s in-flight entertainment is a Panasonic eX3 system offering programming and music content on demand, plus Live TV. In-flight WiFi is available through Panasonic Avionics eXConnect Ku-band satellite service.
Direct vs nonstop: Who holds the record for the longest flight?
While China Eastern’s new service will be the longest direct flight in the world, at 19,700 km (~12,229 miles), it will not be the world’s longest nonstop flight.
A direct flight can include one or more stops en route, for service or refuelling, but retains the same flight number and typically the same aircraft. Passengers sometimes remain on board during the stop. A nonstop flight travels from origin to destination without stopping.
China Eastern’s new service will stop in Auckland for refuelling and servicing, which makes it a direct but not nonstop flight.
The world’s longest nonstop scheduled passenger flight remains Singapore Airlines’ Singapore (SIN) to New York JFK (JFK) service, which covers around 15,349 km (9,537 miles) in about 18–19 hours using the Airbus A350-900ULR.
A new bridge across three continents
China Eastern’s new Shanghai–Buenos Aires route marks a strategic expansion for China Eastern, opening a new air bridge linking Asia, Oceania, and South America. If fifth freedom rights are granted, the airline would become uniquely positioned to facilitate passenger and cargo flows between the three continents on a single flight.
For travellers and businesses, the service will provide a faster and more efficient link between China and Argentina, while strengthening New Zealand’s role as a key transit hub in the Southern Hemisphere.
