Recently, the aviation world witnessed the inaugural flight of what is now considered the longest journey in the skies, clocking in at 29 hours and spanning an impressive 12,400 miles. While the idea of such an extended period in the air might seem daunting to some, this route has been hailed as a significant achievement for long-distance travelers who can now forego the hassle of connecting flights. Launched on December 4th, this China Eastern Airlines route connects Shanghai to Buenos Aires, with the flight from China to Argentina taking over 25 hours and the return trip adding an extra four hours.

Although the flight isn’t nonstop—featuring a two-hour layover in Auckland, New Zealand—its introduction marks a growing trend toward ultra-long-haul flights, defined as those lasting 16 hours or more. The maiden voyage on December 4th saw passengers boarding the spacious Boeing 777-300ER, which boasts 316 seats. This aircraft is slated to operate the route twice weekly throughout the year. Departing from Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 2 a.m. local time, the flight impressively touched down at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires ten minutes ahead of schedule, at 4:45 p.m. local time.

China Eastern Airlines has proudly described this flight as “the world’s first commercial route connecting antipodal cities.” The airline emphasized that the Shanghai Pudong-Auckland-Buenos Aires route represents a crucial step in developing a new “Air Silk Road” between the Asia-Pacific region and South America. Tickets for this groundbreaking journey are priced between £1,130 and £1,670 ($1,525 to $2,254) for economy class, while business class seats are available for approximately £3,700 ($4,994). Prior to the introduction of this route, travelers between China and Argentina typically 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.