China Eastern Airlines has launched record-breaking commercial flights. This marathon journey spans approximately 20,000 kilometers over the Pacific Ocean and even near Antarctica.
The inaugural flight took off on December 4 from Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport at 2:00 AM Beijing time, according to the airline. After a 2-hour and 25-minute stop in Auckland, New Zealand, the plane headed east and arrived in Buenos Aires at 4:30 PM local time the same day. The flight in this direction lasted 25 hours and 55 minutes. Meanwhile, the return flight from Argentina to China is even longer—a record-breaking 29 hours.
It’s worth noting that the stop in Auckland did not involve a plane change. When selecting an aircraft for the longest flights, the airline opted for the long-range Boeing 777-300ER model. Following the first flight, China Eastern Airlines plans to operate flights to Buenos Aires on Mondays and Thursdays, and to Shanghai on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The airline did not explain the reasoning behind launching such an extensive route. However, experts speculate that China aims to expand its international air connections in light of unilateral visa-free agreements, particularly with Argentina. This South American country is a globally recognized producer of beef, soy, and lithium, all of which are in high demand in the Chinese market.
For many years, several airlines have attempted to establish the longest regular flight. Until recently, this record was held by Singapore Airlines, which initiated a record-long non-stop flight from Singapore to New York. This flight lasts over 18 hours, covering 5,349 kilometers, as reported by IFLScience. Importantly, this flight has been consistently operated for a significant period. History has seen other contenders for the title of world record holder, but most of their flights were one-time or short-term events.
Meanwhile, in the realm of non-commercial flights, there have been significantly longer journeys. Remarkably, the record for the longest non-stop flight, set in 1959, remains unbroken. Two pilots—Robert Timm and John Cook—circled Las Vegas for 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes. In total, the aviators covered 240,000 kilometers, equivalent to more than six circumnavigations of the globe.
Fortunately, China Eastern Airlines currently has no plans to repeat this flight.
Photo: Unsplash
