China Eastern Airlines has launched a record-breaking commercial route. This marathon journey spans approximately 20,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean and even passes near Antarctica.
The inaugural flight took off on December 4 from Shanghai’s Pudong International Airport at 2:00 AM Beijing time, the airline said. After a 2-hour, 25-minute stop in Auckland, New Zealand, the plane continued east and arrived in Buenos Aires at 4:30 PM local time the same day. The westbound leg lasted 25 hours and 55 minutes. The return flight from Argentina to China is even longer — a record-setting 29 hours.
The stop in Auckland did not involve a plane change. The airline chose a long-range Boeing 777-300ER for the route. After the inaugural service, China Eastern plans to operate flights to Buenos Aires on Mondays and Thursdays, and return flights to Shanghai on Tuesdays and Fridays.
The airline did not explain why it launched the route. Some analysts say China may be expanding its international air links and pursuing unilateral visa-free agreements, particularly with Argentina. Argentina is a major global producer of beef, soy, and lithium — commodities that are in high demand in the Chinese market.
For years, airlines have competed for the title of the longest regular flight. Until recently, that record belonged to Singapore Airlines for its non-stop Singapore–New York service. That flight runs over 18 hours and, according to IFLScience, covers about 5,349 kilometers. Unlike many one-off or short-term attempts, the Singapore–New York service has been operated consistently.
There have been much longer non-commercial endurance flights. The longest non-stop flight on record was set in 1959, when pilots Robert Timm and John Cook circled Las Vegas for 64 days, 22 hours, and 19 minutes, covering roughly 240,000 kilometers — more than six times around the globe. China Eastern Airlines currently has no plans to attempt a similar endurance flight.
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