China Eastern Boeing 777-300ER Completes 29-Hour Shanghai-Buenos Aires Route

China Eastern Airlines has inaugurated the world's longest commercial flight, a 29-hour journey covering 12,400 miles between Shanghai and Buenos Aires. The service, operated by a 316-seat Boeing 777-300ER, includes a technical stop in Auckland, New Zealand, for refueling and crew rotation, preventing it from being classified as a direct flight. This new route significantly surpasses Singapore Airlines' previous record-holder, the 19-hour New York-Singapore service. The inaugural flight departed Shanghai on December 4 at 2 am local time, arriving in Buenos Aires 10 minutes ahead of schedule. The outbound leg to Argentina takes over 25 hours, with the return journey adding an extra four hours. Operating twice weekly year-round, the service aims to cater to Argentina’s rapidly growing East Asian diaspora. China Eastern Airlines stated the route fills a critical gap in direct connections between Shanghai and major South American cities, establishing a 'southbound corridor' across the Pacific. The launch of this route highlights the ongoing expansion of ultra-long-haul air travel. Australian flag carrier Qantas is also advancing its 'Project Sunrise' initiative, planning non-stop flights up to 22 hours between Sydney, London, and New York. These Qantas services, targeting a 2027 launch for routes like the 10,573-mile London-Sydney, will utilize aircraft equipped with additional fuel capacity to achieve what the airline describes as 'the final frontier of long-haul travel'.