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)