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The inaugural journey of the world’s longest flight, spanning an impressive 12,400 miles and taking 29 hours, recently took off, marking a significant milestone for long-distance travelers who can now bypass layovers. Launched on December 4, this China Eastern Airlines service connects Shanghai with Buenos Aires. The outbound leg from China to Argentina lasts over 25 hours, while the return trip extends to 29 hours.
Although the flight isn’t non-stop, with a two-hour layover in Auckland, New Zealand, its debut signifies a growing trend in ultra-long-haul flights—those exceeding 16 hours. On December 4, passengers boarded the spacious 316-seat Boeing 777-300ER, which is scheduled to operate twice weekly throughout the year. Departing Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2 AM local time, the flight arrived at Ezeiza International Airport slightly ahead of schedule, touching down at 4:45 PM local time.
China Eastern Airlines has hailed the route as the first commercial flight linking two antipodal cities. The airline emphasized that the Shanghai Pudong-Auckland-Buenos Aires service is a key step in establishing a new “Air Silk Road” between Asia-Pacific and South America. Ticket prices for this groundbreaking route range from £1,130 to £1,670 ($1,525 to $2,254) for economy class, while business class tickets are approximately £3,700 ($4,994). Prior to this route, travelers between China and Argentina often faced journeys exceeding 30 hours.
The trip would usually involve connecting flights and layovers. More than 55,000 people born in China live in the South American country and comprise one of Argentina’s fastest-growing communities, according to data from Simply Flying. In a statement, China Eastern said: ‘This new route fills the gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities. ‘It opens a “southbound corridor” connecting opposite ends of the Pacific and reshapes air travel between three continents.’
As aviation technology improves, aircraft are lighter and more fuel-efficient, and 2026 will see Australian airline Qantas unveil more ultra-long-haul services, including a 20-hour non-stop flight between London and Sydney. Dubbed Project Sunrise, the name was inspired by WWII endurance flights, where those on board saw dawn more than once during one journey. The bespoke version of the A350-1000 aircraft is set to be delivered in October 2026, with the first routes set to be Sydney to London and Sydney to New York, and the aircraft armed with additional fuel tanks to handle the roughly 10,500 miles between the two destinations. The airline currently already has one of the world’s longest direct flights, a 17-and-a-half-hour slog that connects London with Perth.
