China Eastern Airlines Launches World’s Longest ’Direct’ Flight Route
China Eastern Airlines introduces a marathon air travel option with its new Shanghai-Buenos Aires route, featuring a 29-hour westbound journey. The flight includes a brief stop in Auckland, New Zealand, maintaining a single aircraft and flight number throughout. This surpasses Singapore-JFK's 9,500-mile non-stop record as the longest 'direct' route at over 12,000 miles.
Twice-weekly operations begin in December, with eastbound flights clocking in at 26 hours. The extended westbound itinerary—departing Shanghai at 2 a.m. and arriving 29 hours later—faces headwind challenges. While the airline hasn't clarified passenger disembarkation policies during the Auckland layover, the offering targets ultra-long-haul enthusiasts seeking endurance-testing travel.
