China Eastern Airlines has launched the longest direct flight in the world — from Shanghai to Buenos Aires. The distance is about 19,631 km, and the flight time is roughly 25.5 hours from Shanghai to Buenos Aires (up to 29 hours on the way back due to headwinds). The route includes a two-hour technical stop in Auckland, New Zealand, for passengers to rest — but it is still considered a direct flight since there is no aircraft change. The Boeing 777-300ER will operate the route twice a week.

Key facts about China Eastern’s new Shanghai – Buenos Aires direct flight

• Airline: China Eastern Airlines (SkyTeam member)
• Route: Shanghai Pudong (PVG) – Auckland (AKL) – Buenos Aires Ezeiza (EZE)
• Flight numbers: MU745 (Shanghai → Auckland → Buenos Aires), MU746 (Buenos Aires → Auckland → Shanghai)
• Launch date: 4 December 2025
• Frequency: 2x weekly in each direction
• Total distance: approx. 19,700–19,800 km / 12,229 miles – currently the longest direct commercial flight in the world by total distance.
• Total journey time:
  – PVG → AKL → EZE (MU745): just under 26 hours scheduled
  – EZE → AKL → PVG (MU746): up to 29 hours – the longest scheduled passenger flight by elapsed time.
• Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER with 316 seats – 6 First, 52 Business, 258 Economy.
• Stop in Auckland: technical stop for refuelling with around a 2–2.5 hour layover, same aircraft and same flight number (direct flight, not nonstop).

Route overview: linking Shanghai and Buenos Aires via Auckland

China Eastern’s new service connects Shanghai, one of Asia’s biggest aviation hubs, with Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina, using Auckland in New Zealand as a refuelling and crew stop.

The airline markets MU745/MU746 as a single direct flight, meaning:

• Passengers keep the same flight number from the origin to the final destination
• The same aircraft operates both sectors
• The stop in Auckland is purely operational, not a full connection with a change of plane

This ultra-long route traces a highly southerly path and comes very close to Antarctica on the Auckland–Buenos Aires sector, making it one of the most remote and spectacular long-haul corridors anywhere in the world.

It is also China Eastern’s first route to South America, giving the carrier a direct presence in Argentina and providing a new trans-Pacific option between Asia and the Southern Cone.

MU745 / MU746 schedule and timings

China Eastern’s schedule is designed to create convenient connections in Shanghai and to maximise aircraft utilisation across three continents.

Eastbound: Shanghai → Auckland → Buenos Aires (MU745)

• Operates: Mondays & Thursdays (Shanghai departure)
• Shanghai (PVG) → Auckland (AKL)
  – Departure: 02:00 (CST)
  – Arrival: 18:30 (NZ time)
• Auckland (AKL) → Buenos Aires (EZE)
  – Departure: 20:55 (NZ time)
  – Arrival: 16:55 (same day, Argentina time)

Total scheduled journey time is just under 26 hours.

Westbound: Buenos Aires → Auckland → Shanghai (MU746)

• Operates: Tuesdays & Fridays (Buenos Aires departure)
• Buenos Aires (EZE) → Auckland (AKL)
  – Departure: 02:00 (ART)
  – Arrival: 08:40 next day (NZ time)
• Auckland (AKL) → Shanghai (PVG)
  – Departure: 10:40 (NZ time)
  – Arrival: 18:00 next day (CST)

With headwinds and the direction of travel, the westbound MU746 can reach 29 hours gate-to-gate, making it the single longest scheduled commercial flight in the world by elapsed time.

Distance and “world’s longest direct flight” record

According to the longest flights table maintained by Wikipedia and aviation analysts, the Shanghai–Buenos Aires city pair via Auckland clocks in at about 19,861 km total distance (origin → stop → destination).

That puts China Eastern’s MU745/MU746 ahead of other ultra-long direct services such as:

• Air China’s Beijing – Madrid – São Paulo
• British Airways & Qantas’ Sydney – Singapore – London
• Qantas’ Sydney – Perth – Paris and Aircalin’s Nouméa – Bangkok – Paris

However, it’s important to separate “direct” from “nonstop”:

• Direct flight: one flight number, same aircraft, may include a stop (like Auckland here)
• Nonstop flight: no intermediate stops at all

The longest nonstop flight in the world remains Singapore Airlines SQ23/SQ24 between Singapore and New York (JFK/EWR), with a flight time of about 18½ hours and a distance just above 15,300 km.

So China Eastern now holds the record for the longest direct flight, while Singapore Airlines continues to hold the record for the longest nonstop flight.

Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER with three-class cabin

China Eastern operates the route with the Boeing 777-300ER, one of the most capable long-haul aircraft currently in service.

Typical configuration on this route is 316 seats:

• First Class: 6 suites in a spacious 1–2–1 layout
• Business Class: 52 fully flat seats, also 1–2–1
• Economy Class: 258 seats in a 3–4–3 layout

Key onboard features include:

• Personal seatback screens at every seat with long-haul entertainment
• Power outlets and USB charging in premium cabins and most economy rows (aircraft dependent)
• Larger galleys and crew-rest areas to support the 25–29 hour duty cycle
• Higher catering loads, with multiple main meal services and snacks across both sectors

For passengers, the 777-300ER offers a relatively spacious cabin and strong performance on ultra-long missions – essential for such a demanding two-sector journey.

Fares and booking information

China Eastern sells tickets for the entire PVG–AKL–EZE journey as a single direct flight, as well as for individual sectors where permitted (notably the fifth-freedom Auckland–Buenos Aires leg).

Early pricing reported in September 2025 showed:

• One-way economy Shanghai → Buenos Aires: from around US$1,700
• One-way business Shanghai → Buenos Aires: around US$6,000–6,500
• Buenos Aires → Shanghai one-way economy: roughly US$1,550+

These were sample prices around launch; actual fares fluctuate based on season, demand, and how far in advance you book.

Tickets can be purchased:

• Directly via China Eastern’s website and mobile app
• Through SkyTeam partners and global OTAs
• Using miles in selected frequent-flyer programmes, subject to availability

Because of the extreme travel time, many travellers will consider Business or First Class for this route, especially on the 29-hour westbound MU746.

Why China Eastern’s longest direct flight matters

New bridge between China and South America

The route creates a new non-US, non-European option between East Asia and the Southern Cone, complementing existing services such as:

• Air China’s Beijing – Madrid – São Paulo direct route
• LATAM and other carriers linking South America to Europe and North America

For business, tourism and cargo, this means:

• Faster, more convenient travel between China and Argentina without transiting the US or Europe
• A new corridor for export–import cargo between the two economies
• Better connectivity for Chinese companies investing in South American agriculture, energy and infrastructure

Restoring New Zealand – Argentina connectivity

The Auckland–Buenos Aires leg also revives a trans-Pacific link that disappeared during the pandemic. Previous services by Aerolíneas Argentinas and Air New Zealand were cancelled, leaving no direct flights between New Zealand and Argentina.

Now, China Eastern can:

• Serve fifth-freedom passengers travelling only between Auckland and Buenos Aires
• Support tourism, VFR (visiting friends and relatives) traffic, and trade between New Zealand and South America

New Zealand’s aviation authorities estimate tens of thousands of South Americans live in New Zealand, and this new route is expected to generate significant additional visitor spending in the country.

Direct vs nonstop: clearing up the terminology

Many headlines call MU745/MU746 the “world’s longest flight”, but the small print matters.

What does “direct flight” mean

A direct flight:

• Uses one flight number from origin to destination
• Can include one or more stops, for refuelling or picking up passengers
• Keeps travellers on the same aircraft (in most cases)

That’s exactly what China Eastern does: you fly PVG–AKL–EZE or EZE–AKL–PVG with the same flight number MU745 or MU746.

What “nonstop flight” means

A nonstop flight:

• Has no intermediate stops at all
• Typically requires an ultra-long-range aircraft and very careful payload management

China Eastern’s new route is not nonstop – it stops in Auckland – so it competes in the “longest direct flight” category, not the “longest nonstop flight” one.

Tips for surviving a 25–29 hour ultra-long journey

Spending more than a full day in transit is a serious test of endurance. A few practical tips:

1. Choose your seat wisely
   – Window seats for sleeping; aisle seats if you move around often.
   – On such a long itinerary, consider paying extra for extra-legroom seats or an upgrade if possible.
2. Break the flight mentally into segments
   – Treat each sector (PVG–AKL and AKL–EZE, or vice versa) as its own “trip” with a reset in between.
3. Hydrate constantly
   – Avoid excessive alcohol and caffeine. Drink water regularly and bring a refillable bottle.
4. Pack a serious comfort kit
   – Neck pillow, compression socks, eye mask, noise-cancelling headphones, moisturiser and lip balm all help a lot.
5. Move and stretch whenever possible
   – Walk the aisles and stretch every few hours to improve circulation and reduce stiffness.
6. Plan sleep strategically
   – Use earplugs, an eye mask and familiar music/white noise to build a “sleep bubble” around you.
7. Download entertainment and work offline
   – Don’t rely solely on onboard Wi-Fi – download movies, series, podcasts or work files in advance.

FAQ: China Eastern’s Shanghai – Buenos Aires direct flight

Is this really the world’s longest direct flight?

Yes. By total city-pair distance (Shanghai – Auckland – Buenos Aires, around 19,700–19,800 km) and scheduled journey time (up to 29 hours westbound), MU745/MU746 is currently recognised as the world’s longest direct commercial flight.

Is the China Eastern flight nonstop?

No. The flight stops in Auckland for refuelling and operational reasons. Passengers usually remain on the same aircraft with the same flight number, which is why the airline can market it as a direct flight.

How long does the flight take?

• Shanghai → Buenos Aires (MU745): just under 26 hours scheduled
• Buenos Aires → Shanghai (MU746): up to 29 hours scheduled

Including the Auckland stop, this makes MU746 the longest scheduled passenger flight by elapsed time.

What aircraft does China Eastern use on this route?

China Eastern deploys a Boeing 777-300ER with 316 seats in three classes: First, Business and Economy.

When did the world’s longest direct flight start?

The inaugural MU745/746 flights launched on 4 December 2025, with twice-weekly service in each direction.