China Eastern will operate a 29-hour twice-weekly “direct” flight from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, via Auckland. On paper this becomes the world’s longest “direct” passenger flight — with a return block pushing ~29 hours. “Direct” here means one flight number and the same aircraft the whole way, even with a stop. It’s not non-stop but equivalnet to Qantas’ direct Sydney – London service that stops in Singapore, but a few hours longer.
Effective December 4, 2025:
- Shanghai – Auckland, 2:00 a.m. 6:30 p.m. MU745
Auckland – Buenos Aires, 8:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. MU745 (25.5 hours)Buenos Aires – Auckland, 2:00 a.m. – 8:40 a.m+1. MU746
Auckland – Shanghai, 10:40 a.m.+1 – 6:00 p.m.+1, MU746 (29 hours)
The flight will be operated by a 3-cabin Boeing 777-300ER. China Eastern announced the route in June with New Zealand’s Prime Minister at the Auckland airport. China Eastern was already flying Shanghai – Auckland and adds fifth-freedom Auckland – Buenos Aires. The airport suggests this brings NZ$48m in annual visitor spending and China Eastern promotes shorter travel time between Shanghai and Buenos Aires versus a transatlantic routing with more limited time zone swings.
“Direct” flights can involve a stop. This is not non-stop. The Shanghai – Buenos Aires city pair via Auckland measures 12,229 miles. That beats the previous longest direct, Sydney – London Heathrow. Auckland is attractive for geography and because New Zealand is liberalizing Chinese transit visa rules. Less attractive would actually be flying the route in economy.
Standard reporting on the flight is that throgh passengers will remain on board the whole time. However the flight will carry local traffic (Shanghai – Auckland passengers, as carried currently, and Auckland – Buenos Aires passengers only). So it’s not clear to me whether passengers will actually remain onboard or in the sterile transit area.
People transiting through Auckland must stay in the transit area of the airport, for a maximum period of 24 hours without visa. It is possible to remain in transit (1) on board the arrival aircraft, (2) in an immigration control area, or (3) in the custody of the police. So onboard is possible.
The “Transit & Transfer area” at Auckland requires passengers to go through security screening to enter for the next flight.
Normally I would have expected passengers to deplane and then everyone to board together (through and originating passengers). This isn’t just a refueling technical stop. However, it’s possible that things could be arranged for passengers to remain onboard. I’m not sure that’s better.
Nonetheless, there will need to be ground handling (fuel, catering, possibly decontamination and cleaning). I haven’t found an official China Eastern or Auckland Airport notice regarding this.
Of course actual non-stops are a different beast.
| # | Route | Airline | Distance (mi) | Scheduled block |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SIN–JFK | Singapore Airlines | 9,537 | 18:50 |
| 2 | SIN–EWR | Singapore Airlines | 9,535 | 18:25 |
| 3 | DOH–AKL | Qatar Airways | 9,032 | 17:35 |
| 4 | PER–LHR | Qantas | 9,009 | 17:20 |
| 5 | MEL–DFW | Qantas | 8,992 | 17:35 |
| 6 | AKL–JFK | Air New Zealand | 8,828 | 17:50 |
| 7 | DXB–AKL | Emirates | 8,824 | 17:10 |
| 8 | SIN–LAX | Singapore Airlines | 8,770 | 17:50 |
| 9 | BLR–SFO | Air India | 8,701 | 17:40 |
| 10 | IAH–SYD | United | 8,596 | 17:35 |
Qantas’ Project Sunrise is set to eventually become the longest, flying nonstop from Sydney to New York JFK and to London Heathrow. That’s still planned for 2027.
(HT: Paddle Your Own Kanoo)
Wow… that’s brutal. I remember flying JFK-PVG before the pandemic (cheap flight, 1-stop to SE Asia), and it was ‘not pretty’ in the back (like, scary ‘mystery meat’ for a meal). That was like 15 hours. I cannot imagine double that. Yikes.
Oh heck no. 29 hours and the plane will be fueled by body odor.
I will probably take it at least once, but only if it’s in business class and the deal good.
Interesting, but I wouldn’t do it, even in business. Post-pandemic, I think more people are comfortable that they can work any time, any where, so don’t really need to shorten travel time in a way that is uncomfortable.
Wow, glad we have vloggers to live vicariously through.
@GUWonder — Those ‘deals’ haven’t really returned since the pandemic.
MU, CZ, and CA used to undercut Western carriers by like half, (and dirt cheap in Economy, think $500 RT from EWR to BKK, 1 stop), but, in recent years, they’ve really scaled back, and, even then, the NYC-PROC routes are extremely expensive. Like, do a quick search for JFK-PEK. +$20K/person Business Class?! Used to be like $5K.
And I don’t think many tourists, students, or business persons from USA are really going there anymore. Frédéric Bastiat is credited with saying, “When goods don’t cross borders, Soldiers will.”
Challenge accepted.
While “direct” in North America means one or more stops/no change of plane, in the rest of the world “direct” means non-stop. E.G., if you go to expedia.co.uk and look for flights, you will find that what we call “non-stop” is labeled as “direct”.
Ridiculous you can call it direct because the flight number doesn’t change lol.
When we retired, we decided to travel to places where normally didn’t. Last year we went from MLA-FRA-HND. Stayed five days and flew NRT-PPT. Ten days and then PPT-NRT-ITM. Three nites then bullet train to Tokyo. Three nites then HND-FRA-MLA. Slept two days.
Next year it’s MLA-FRA-EZE with a side trip to MDZ for Malbec tasting. A month before MLA-FRA-SIN-AKL. Same day arrival check into spa to relax. See the sites, taste wine, and take scenic 12 hour train ride with full catering to Wellington. Museums, zoo (to see penguins) and wine tasting. Back to AKL with flight to SIN. Five nites. Our second visit in two years. Then SIN-FRA-MLA. Call me nostalgic,but I love flying the 748. And from SIN to AKL, it will be our first ride on the 380.
But, in May, we get to relax. We fly MLA-FRA-KEF. Spend 8 days cruising all the way around Iceland. But there is NO WAY IN HELL I will fly PVG-AKL-EZE. Are they crazy!
@AlanZ — Epic itineraries! Wow, the jet-lag must have been intense.
Japan, Tahiti, Argentina, and New Zealand are each incredible destinations.
Returning to Tokyo and Kyoto later this year with JAL (can’t wait to try their a35K). When in Tahiti, did you make it to BOB?
For your future travels, I’ve heard great things about Mendoza (for wine); I’ve been to Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego. Likewise, it’s been a little while, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed NZ, especially the South Island, Queenstown, and the North is nice, too (Cathedral Cove outside of Auckland is worth a visit); have not made it to Wellington yet, but want to return to see it and Christchurch.
Huge fan of both the 747 and a380 as well, especially if you get to fly up top. Not too many airlines even operate the 747 anymore, so when you can find it, take it (assuming you’ll be with Lufthansa based on the FRA routes.)
I had a few less than ideal experiences in Iceland (mostly bad hotels); otherwise, it’s impressive as well (for its natural beauty); if you have the time, try the ferry to the Westman Islands (Vestmannaeyjar); if you do the entire ring-road, I liked the detour to Dettifoss (it’s in the film Prometheus.)
It’s going to be extremely entertaining to see what insane, uncouth behavior the Mainland Chinese passengers in economy come up with on this long journey. Does anyone else remember the Shenzhen Airlines passenger who let her child defecate on the cabin floor because the toilets were “too small,” even though both lavatories were unoccupied? How about the woman who tossed coins into a China Southern jet’s engine for good luck at Pudong, forcing a five hour delay while mechanics retrieved them? Or the man who opened an emergency exit before takeoff to “get some fresh air,” as the plane was lining up for departure in China? This is gonna be good.
@Mike Hunt — Where’ve you been! Hopefully somewhere nice, and, of course, having flown there in F or J. Yeah, I remember those posts (the poo, the coins, the emergency exit); not sure a China-thing, so much as an ‘crazy’-thing, but point taken (we got our share of whackos at home, too).
wow 29h stuck with Chinese and South American passengers, i wonder who would be the noisiest between those 2
headache is guaranteed
@McCaron — Naw, naw… half that plane would be kind Kiwis… it’d be fine, unless you’re bothered by their pronunciation of the word ‘yes’ as ‘yis’ and their stories of the ‘toothbrush fence’ or their many sheep. Baaaah.
29 hours in a metal tube with a bunch of stinky, rude Chinese ? I’d opt for a day in solitary confinement before I ever did that
Ridiculous that commenters here don’t understand that a direct flight just means no change of plane. Does not mean it’s nonstop. It’s always been like that. Learn how it really works
Wow, it is one of the rare real ‘direct’ flights.
https://medium.com/@brothke/thou-shalt-not-use-the-term-direct-flight-when-you-mean-non-stop-892a34976668?sk=7a5b4998fee33769ad59b55c57c191ad