The world's longest flight on a China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777-300ER lasted 29 hours and covered a distance of 20,000 kilometers—a new record.
The Boeing 777 is known as the world's largest twin-engine jet and the most widely used wide-body aircraft. It is also the aircraft chosen for the world's longest commercial flight, from Shanghai, China, to Buenos Aires, Argentina, according to Express.
The longest flight was from Shanghai to Buenos Aires
However, this doesn't mean the flight was nonstop. It landed in Auckland, New Zealand, for a two-hour stopover for crew changes and refueling.
Tabloids wryly noted that such a long flight might seem excruciating to some, but for others it is much more convenient than a connecting flight, which could take two days.
Shanghai and Buenos Aires are located practically opposite each other on the globe. A flight from China to Argentina takes about 25 hours and 55 minutes, and a return flight takes 29 hours.
In a statement, China Eastern said: "This new route fills the gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities. It opens a 'southern corridor' connecting the opposite sides of the Pacific Ocean and changes the format of air travel between three continents."
Previously, the longest commercial flight was Singapore Airlines' 19-hour direct flight from New York to Singapore. Competition has intensified: Australian airline Qantas announced plans to launch a new 22-hour route from Sydney to London in 2027.
Argentina has a rapidly growing Chinese community, with 55,000 people born in China living there. In the 12 months ending September 2025, 96,000 passengers traveled between China and Buenos Aires. So, they might find the new ultra-long-haul flight very tempting.
Since the 20th century, Chinese immigrants have arrived in Argentina in three waves. The first wave of immigrants came from small coastal towns between 1914 and 1949. The second wave of immigrants arrived from Taiwan in the 1980s. The third wave of Chinese migration to Argentina occurred primarily in the 1990s and 2000s and was driven by economic opportunities. The Chinese opened numerous small Asian supermarkets and contributed significantly to the development of the retail industry.
They are attracted by Argentina's welcoming attitude toward immigrants and the easy access to citizenship. Many are fleeing the political situation in China, and the country has a thriving Chinatown (called "Barrio Chino").
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