Shanghai, September 16 - China Eastern Airlines, one of Asia's premier carriers renowned for its extensive long-haul network, is set to redefine ultra-long-haul travel with the launch of the world's longest direct flight. Beginning December 4, 2025, the airline will operate a groundbreaking route from Shanghai Pudong International Airport (PVG) to Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport (EZE), spanning an astonishing 12,229 miles across the Pacific Ocean. This ambitious service, designated as China Eastern flight MU745 outbound and MU746 inbound, will clock in at up to 29 hours for the return leg from Buenos Aires to Shanghai, surpassing all previous records for direct passenger flights. While the outbound journey from Shanghai to Buenos Aires takes approximately 25 hours and 30 minutes, the eastbound return faces relentless headwinds that extend the duration by several hours, making it a true test of endurance in commercial aviation. Importantly, this is classified as a direct flight rather than nonstop, as it includes a brief two-and-a-half-hour technical stopover in Auckland, New Zealand (AKL), where passengers remain seated aboard the same aircraft without disembarking. This innovative approach allows China Eastern to bridge two distant economic powerhouses, China's bustling eastern seaboard and Argentina's vibrant southern hub, while leveraging fifth-freedom rights to carry passengers between Auckland and Buenos Aires, filling a niche in the trans-Pacific market.
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The operational backbone of this record-breaking China Eastern direct flight is the Boeing 777-300ER, a wide-body workhorse equipped for extended-range missions with its efficient twin-engine design and spacious cabin configuration. China Eastern's variant features 316 seats, thoughtfully divided into six luxurious first-class suites for ultimate privacy, 52 lie-flat business-class pods offering enhanced comfort on the marathon journey, and 258 economy seats with ample legroom to mitigate the rigors of such prolonged air time. The aircraft's advanced fuel efficiency and aerodynamic profile make it ideal for covering the vast expanse without mid-flight refueling, while onboard systems ensure seamless navigation over remote oceanic routes. Scheduled twice weekly, departures from Shanghai will occur every Monday and Thursday, aligning with the outbound MU745, while the inbound MU746 will lift off from Buenos Aires on Tuesdays and Fridays. This frequency strikes a balance between demand and operational feasibility, catering to business travelers, leisure explorers, and cargo needs alike. By incorporating the Auckland layover, the flight not only complies with international regulations on crew rest and fuel loads but also optimizes the trajectory, avoiding congested airspace and geopolitical hotspots, thereby enhancing safety and reliability for passengers embarking on this epic Shanghai to Buenos Aires odyssey.
In the broader landscape of long-haul aviation, China Eastern's 29-hour direct flight eclipses existing benchmarks, outpacing the current record holder, Air China's Beijing to São Paulo service via Madrid, which spans about 9,494 nautical miles and takes around 26 hours. For context, Singapore Airlines' flagship nonstop from New York to Singapore, at nearly 19 hours and 9,537 nautical miles, represents the pinnacle of uninterrupted ultra-long-haul travel, but it falls short in total duration compared to this new entrant. Qantas' forthcoming Project Sunrise flights, slated for 2026, aim to push nonstop boundaries to 20 hours between Sydney and London or New York, yet they won't challenge the sheer elapsed time of China Eastern's direct offering. This development underscores a strategic pivot in global route planning, where airlines increasingly blend direct efficiency with practical stopovers to serve underserved corridors. For travelers, the route opens seamless connectivity between Asia and South America, bypassing traditional hubs in North America or Europe and reducing overall transit times for those routing through Shanghai. Moreover, it bolsters trade links, facilitating the transport of high-value goods like electronics from China and agricultural products from Argentina, all while stimulating tourism between these culturally rich destinations.
As tickets for the inaugural China Eastern 29-hour flight go on sale, pricing reflects the premium nature of this unparalleled long-haul experience, with one-way economy fares starting at around $1,538 and climbing to $2,270 depending on the season and class of service. Business-class options command upwards of $6,435, promising enhanced amenities such as gourmet multi-course meals adapted for varying time zones, in-flight entertainment libraries spanning thousands of hours, and wellness features like adjustable lighting and humidity controls to combat jet lag on the extended voyage. Passengers can anticipate a meticulously curated onboard regimen, including scheduled stretch sessions, hydration reminders, and noise-canceling headphones to foster rest amid the continuous hum of jet engines. This Shanghai-Buenos Aires direct flight not only cements China Eastern's position as a trailblazer in aviation innovation but also invites adventurers to embrace the thrill of crossing hemispheres in a single, unbroken journey. As the aviation industry hurtles toward even greater horizons, this service exemplifies how technological prowess and bold vision can shrink the world, turning a 29-hour commitment into a gateway for cross-continental discovery and economic vitality.