29 Hours in the Sky: China Eastern's Record-Breaking Shanghai-Buenos Aires Flight

The World’s Longest Flight Breaks Records

Taking an astonishing 29 hours, the world’s longest flight made its record-breaking debut this month. This remarkable journey is operated by China Eastern Airlines, connecting Shanghai and Buenos Aires with a short stopover in Auckland. The inaugural service departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on 4 December. The southbound trip takes just over 25 hours, while the return to China stretches to roughly 29 hours due to prevailing winds.

The flight is operated by a 316-seat Boeing 777-300ER, covering around 20,700 kilometers and landing at Ezeiza International Airport outside the Argentine capital. This new route is part of a broader strategy to create a “southbound corridor” between three continents, which China Eastern has described as a step toward building an “Air Silk Road” linking Asia with Oceania and South America.

A Key Market for Chinese Travelers

Argentina is home to around 55,000 Chinese nationals, making it a key market for the airline. Prices for the flight range from €1,320 to €1,950 in economy class, with business class tickets reaching about €4,200. The carrier emphasizes that this new “southbound corridor” connects opposite ends of the Pacific, strengthening travel options between Asia, Oceania, and South America.

This development reflects how rapidly ultra-long-haul travel is expanding. Powered by lighter aircraft and better fuel efficiency, airlines are seeking direct links between far-flung regions—sometimes even “antipodal” destinations. The new journey joins a small but growing group of ultra-long-haul routes already in operation.

Current Ultra-Long-Haul Routes

Singapore Airlines currently operates the longest non-stop service, connecting Singapore and New York’s JFK Airport. The eastbound and return flights last about 18 hours and are flown in an ultra-long-range Airbus A350, a type of plane capable of remaining airborne for nearly 18,000 kilometers. The airline also offers a slightly shorter Singapore-Newark service.

Other airlines maintain routes that regularly exceed 15 hours. Qatar Airways links Doha and Auckland, while Qantas operates two major long-hauls: Perth to London Heathrow and Melbourne to Dallas Fort Worth. All these flights fall within the ultra-long-haul category, defined as flights lasting 16 hours or more.

What’s Next for Air Travel?

Soon, travelers unbothered by extremes can take even lengthier journeys. Qantas plans to introduce its ‘Project Sunrise’ routes either in late 2026 or 2027. Using specially configured Airbus A350-1000s fitted with additional fuel tanks, Qantas will offer non-stop flights from Sydney to London and Sydney to New York, with journey times expected to range between 19 and 22 hours. The aircraft are due for delivery in October 2026, with Sydney-London expected to be the first departure.

Other long-haul additions are also planned for 2026. Etihad will introduce a new Abu Dhabi-Charlotte service in May, expanding its US network with near-15-hour flights. Delta is set to launch its first nonstop route between Atlanta and Riyadh in late 2026. Meanwhile, Ireland’s Aer Lingus will expand its transatlantic network with a new Dublin-Raleigh Durham route, and British Airways is adding extra flights to Miami and Bangkok and reopening seasonal links to Jamaica.

Environmental Concerns

This upward trend may appeal to travelers fascinated by the experience of flying, but it raises concerns for the climate. Taking one long-haul flight generates more carbon emissions than many people around the world produce in a whole year—and more than an average European emits with heating their home and eating, according to campaign group Stay Grounded.

“This shows exactly why the industry cannot be trusted when it comes to reducing emissions and protecting our future,” said Hannah Lawrence, a spokesperson for Stay Grounded, speaking to Euronews Travel. “It is not even possible to make flying sustainable with the current number of flights that take off each day, yet they're adding more and longer routes. This is why we need effective policies to reduce flying fairly—through things like a Frequent Flying Levy, which could raise €64 billion and reduce emissions by a fifth in Europe.”