World's Longest Commercial Flight Launched With 29-Hour China–Argentina Route

The world’s longest commercial flight route has officially taken to the skies, with China Eastern Airlines launching a record-breaking 29-hour journey between Shanghai and Buenos Aires, according to international media reports.

Covering approximately 12,400 miles — nearly half the circumference of the Earth — the new service is now the longest commercial airline route in operation by total journey time.

According to The Independent, the inaugural flight departed Shanghai at 2am local time on December 4 and arrived in Buenos Aires at 4.45pm local time, touching down around 10 minutes ahead of schedule. China Eastern described the route as a landmark connection linking Asia and South America.

Stopover in Auckland

The ultra-long-haul service operates with a technical stop in Auckland, New Zealand, where the aircraft is refuelled and flight crews are rotated. While the stop means the service does not qualify as the world’s longest non-stop flight, its total duration makes it the longest commercial route door-to-door.

“This new route fills the gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities,” China Eastern said. The airline added that the service “opens a ‘southbound corridor’ connecting opposite ends of the Pacific and reshapes air travel between three continents”.

The route is operated twice weekly year-round using a 316-seat Boeing 777-300ER. China Eastern said the flight is designed to serve Argentina’s growing East Asian diaspora, one of the country’s fastest-expanding communities.

Airlines push ultra-long-haul limits

By overall journey time, the new China Eastern service surpasses Singapore Airlines’ New York–Singapore flight, which lasts around 19 hours and previously held the title for the world’s longest commercial service.

Aviation analysts say the launch highlights intensifying competition among global carriers to push the boundaries of ultra-long-haul travel.

Australian carrier Qantas has announced plans for its “Project Sunrise” routes, aiming to operate non-stop flights of up to 22 hours between Sydney and destinations including London and New York from 2027. Qantas has previously described its planned London–Sydney service, covering more than 10,500 miles, as “the final frontier of long-haul travel”.

Other longest commercial flights

Despite losing the top spot for total journey time, several routes continue to rank among the world’s longest by distance and duration. Singapore Airlines operates the longest non-stop flight, connecting New York and Singapore across 15,349 kilometres (9,537 miles) in approximately 18 to 19 hours using its Airbus A350-900ULR. Xiamen Airlines ranks second with its New York–Fuzhou route, covering 11,388 kilometres (7,077 miles) in around 19 hours and 20 minutes on a Boeing 787-9.

Qantas also operates one of the longest routes, flying from Perth to London Heathrow across 14,499 kilometres (7,829 nautical miles) in approximately 17 hours and 50 minutes aboard a Boeing 787-9.