SkyTeam member China Eastern is launching a new fifth freedom flight, which is part of the world’s new longest “direct” flight. This is quite a journey…
In this post:
China Eastern adds Auckland to Buenos Aires route
As of December 4, 2025, China Eastern will launch 2x weekly flights from Shanghai (PVG) to Auckland (AKL) to Buenos Aires (EZE), representing the carrier’s first route to South America. The flight will operate with the following schedule:
MU745 Shanghai to Auckland departing 2:00AM arriving 6:30PM
MU745 Auckland to Buenos Aires departing 8:55PM arriving 4:55PM
MU746 Buenos Aires to Auckland departing 2:00AM arriving 8:40AM (+1 day)
MU746 Auckland to Shanghai departing 10:40AM arriving 6:00PM (+1 day)
The eastbound journey will operate on Mondays and Thursdays and is blocked at just under 26 hours, while the westbound journey will operate on Tuesdays and Fridays, and is blocked at a staggering 29 hours. When you combine the length of the flight with the 2AM departure (meaning most passengers likely won’t have gotten any sleep the prior night), this has to be one of the most exhausting long haul routes imaginable.
In total, this route will cover a distance of 12,229 miles, with the Shanghai to Auckland sector covering 5,808 miles, and the Auckland to Buenos Aires sector covering 6,421 miles. The flight between New Zealand and Argentina will be a fifth freedom flight, meaning that it’ll be possible for passengers to exclusively travel between those two countries on China Eastern.
China Eastern will use a Boeing 777-300ER for the route, with 316 seats. This includes six first class seats, 52 business class seats, and 258 economy seats.
This is an interesting route on a couple of levels:
- This is the world’s longest “direct” flight (in airline terms, “direct” and “nonstop” are not the same)
- This is among the world’s most southerly long haul routes, and it’ll be flying mighty close to Antarctica; other very southerly routes include Qantas’ Sydney (SYD) to Johannesburg (JNB) and Santiago (SCL) flights, as well as LATAM’s Santiago (SCL) to Auckland (AKL) and Melbourne (MEL) flights
The announcement of this route was initially made in June 2025, during a ceremony in Shanghai, where New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon was in attendance. Here’s what Luxon had to say about the new route:
“As a country we are working hard to grow tourism back to 2019 levels and beyond, because doing so will drive economic growth right across the country. This new route is estimated to bring an additional $48 million in annual visitor spend to New Zealand.”
Meanwhile here’s what Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganui had to say:
“While we have rebuilt our aviation connections with China, visitation is still recovering. Additional flights from Shanghai Pudong, a major globally connected hub, supports more travellers not just direct from China but also those connecting via Shanghai from across Asia and Europe into Auckland.”
“This new service will reintroduce a direct flight connection between New Zealand and Argentina, enhancing not only tourism, trade and international education, but providing another link home for the 40,000 South Americans who live in New Zealand.”
How this fits into the competitive landscape
This isn’t the first time that we’ve seen service between Auckland and Buenos Aires. Air New Zealand operated this route from 2015 until 2020, though the service was cut at the start of the pandemic. Prior to that, Aerolineas Argentinas operated this route until 2012.
Obviously given China’s distance from South America, operating nonstop flights isn’t practical. China Eastern won’t be the only Chinese carrier to fly to South America. For example, Air China flies from Beijing (PEK) to Madrid (MAD) to Sao Paulo (GRU), but as you can tell, that route goes “the other way.”
Obviously Air New Zealand would have a significant advantage in this market, given connecting traffic in Auckland. However, Air New Zealand also has more opportunity cost with operating such a route.
Airlines from mainland China have kind of struggled post pandemic with international recovery. So I imagine this route is motivated by political factors, plus also serving a fifth freedom market that probably has a decent amount of demand, especially for filling just two flights per week.
Bottom line
As of December 2025, China Eastern is launching 2x weekly flights from Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland, with that second sector being a fifth freedom service. This is a mighty long journey, and the world’s longest “direct” flight. This is one of two routes between New Zealand and South America, with the other being on LATAM.
What do you make of China Eastern’s new Buenos Aires flight?
Aerolineas Argentinas should try fill this with connections from all over the Mercosur!
@Sam, guy, that would be one hell of a boring and unpleasant flight.
In 2019, I flew from Addis Ababa to Maputo on Ethiopian Airlines B737 Max, it was just under 6 hours with no inflight entertainment and it was hell.
I was virtually counting the time by the seconds. I can't imagine a 10 hour flight with no ICE on board.
Now, I avoid narrow bodies on any flight over 3 hours and when...
@Sam, guy, that would be one hell of a boring and unpleasant flight.
In 2019, I flew from Addis Ababa to Maputo on Ethiopian Airlines B737 Max, it was just under 6 hours with no inflight entertainment and it was hell.
I was virtually counting the time by the seconds. I can't imagine a 10 hour flight with no ICE on board.
Now, I avoid narrow bodies on any flight over 3 hours and when narrow bodies are the only available options on the route, then I have to check "what's in your flight" first before booking.
As a retired kiwi living in Brazil I welcome competition for Latam. Hopefully we'll be able to save some money on fares for a visit back home and for when we return to NZ permanently.
I think it is economically viable. Go for it
Got to get those ccp agents busy & into NZ & Argentina.
I can see that the return flight takes longer. After all it’s uphill.
Would like to know about the ETOPS on AKL To South America.
Imagine doing that 29 hour trek in economy! Absolutely brutal!
Yeah in a middle seat that does not lean back
I would love to see more competition on the flights to Buenos Aires as Latam is the only airline flying to Santiago only.
I had the pleasure of flying Air New Zealand to Buenos Aires and it’s such a great airline. Let’s hope China Eastern can provide good service.
The flight seems to be a good thing. I have flown China Eastern from Brisbane to Shanghai and they were fine. Another choice for Australians as well to get to South America which is underserved from Australia even if it does involve a stop in Auckland and with China Eastern being a Qantas partner in their FF scheme another choice for points users.
I would think the crew would like these flights as it would...
The flight seems to be a good thing. I have flown China Eastern from Brisbane to Shanghai and they were fine. Another choice for Australians as well to get to South America which is underserved from Australia even if it does involve a stop in Auckland and with China Eastern being a Qantas partner in their FF scheme another choice for points users.
I would think the crew would like these flights as it would give them a decent stay in Auckland and BA depending on how the roster it.
Probably NOT a coincidence, but from November 2025 people with a Chinese passport will be able to transit through New Zealand on an NZeTA, instead of a Transit Visa, even if it is even just a sterile transit.
In any case, I'd expect plenty of Chinese and other travellers caught unaware about the above authorization...
Hey Ben, how about a lead-in where your readers could describe their most arduous commercial trip? I don't think I'd win the Blue Ribbon, but I have a pretty good one.
There is a lot of demand between China and South America. Given the total travel time, cost, and length of other routes through the US or Europe for example, this flight makes sense. Keep in mind that many non-Americans that require a visa for the US cannot transfer there even if it is an international transfer.
who cares. It still stops
Fantastic finally the corrective wording of direct versus non-stop- congratulations
China Eastern is the Fanta of candy airlines
Thank you for noting the original distinction between direct and non-stop. Most of the traveling world now uses those terms interchangeably, but in some places it still matters, including the Caribbean region where I am at the moment. See also: calling a boarding pass a "ticket"; and saying "customs" as if it encompasses everything that happens from the time you disembark from an international flight until you are landside. Just some petty peeves.
I...
Thank you for noting the original distinction between direct and non-stop. Most of the traveling world now uses those terms interchangeably, but in some places it still matters, including the Caribbean region where I am at the moment. See also: calling a boarding pass a "ticket"; and saying "customs" as if it encompasses everything that happens from the time you disembark from an international flight until you are landside. Just some petty peeves.
I flew Auckland to Buenos Aires on Qantas 25 years ago. At the time it was the longest over-water flight in the world, which is the reason I made the journey.
Australian here. There is a large South American population in Aus and I can see this being a low cost option for trips home. The Qantas/Latam code share is very expensive and so many end up taking long routes via North America at present.
Cool. PVG and EZE are near antipodes. I read somewhere else that if your flying the complete trip, you're expected to stay on the plane in AKL.
I was in Buenos Aires last month and surprised by quite a number of (mainland) Chinese tourists and perhaps expats in town, despite a long way to get there. Most of the east Asians I came across were overheard speaking Mandarin or one of the southern dialects (I am fluent in Korean and some understanding of Japanese so I can rule out those two for sure). I suppose China Eastern is aware of that trend?
Not sure about tourists or expats personally as I haven’t met any in BA, but I’m pretty sure China is currently the main non-Latam origin for immigrants in Argentina
Those Chinese need to vet the stolen money out of China, so they'd go anywhere.
What's going to happen to MU's AKL to SYD fifth freedom route then?
This is about as “direct” as United’s new flights from the US to Bangkok
You obviously do not understand what a “direct” flight is. It is NOT non-stop and one of my pet peeves is when people refer to a non-stop flight as “direct”. Read the link Ben provided.
It shouldn't really be a pet peeve, given that it's actually correct. Much like squares and rectangles, all nonstop fights are direct, but not all direct flights are nonstop.
IATA defines a direct flight as "any flight ticketed as a single flight coupon, irrespective of whether there are en route stops and/or changes of aircraft types."
Thus, a direct flight may or may not include stops en route, and nonstop flights are the subset...
It shouldn't really be a pet peeve, given that it's actually correct. Much like squares and rectangles, all nonstop fights are direct, but not all direct flights are nonstop.
IATA defines a direct flight as "any flight ticketed as a single flight coupon, irrespective of whether there are en route stops and/or changes of aircraft types."
Thus, a direct flight may or may not include stops en route, and nonstop flights are the subset of direct flights which do not make stops.
This is only 700 miles longer than SQ's SIN-MAN-IAH route (no longer in service), but nice to have another connection between AUS/NZL and S. America.
My understanding why there isn’t a direct “non stop” flight from Asia fo South America is due to environmental risk/protections of rubber crops in Asia. Will be curious how the flights logistics will operate.
From the internet:
“There are no non-direct flights between Asia and South America because the risk of South American Leaf Blight (SALB), a destructive fungal disease that infects rubber trees, spreading to Asia is too high. Instead, flights between these...
My understanding why there isn’t a direct “non stop” flight from Asia fo South America is due to environmental risk/protections of rubber crops in Asia. Will be curious how the flights logistics will operate.
From the internet:
“There are no non-direct flights between Asia and South America because the risk of South American Leaf Blight (SALB), a destructive fungal disease that infects rubber trees, spreading to Asia is too high. Instead, flights between these regions are indirect and carefully controlled, with stringent phytosanitary measures in place, including air tunnels to dislodge SALB spores from passengers and X-rays for baggage to prevent the fungus from migrating to major rubber-producing Asian countries. “
Surely even the most ardent ‘aviation geek’ would never subject their body, mind and soul to that ordeal? China Eastern or Boeing Max, both are equally unpalatable to those who respect their families and friends.
PSY-BZZ onboard a C-130, none stop with inboard aux tanks and four midair refuelling sorties was much more entertaining …. :-)
Apologies Brent, the post above should have been posted as a separate comment and not under yours. Again, apologies.
There are nonstop flights from Asia to South America, from Sao Paulo to Tel Aviv (not sure if currently operating), Dubai and Doha. There are no nonstop flights from East Asia to South America, but I would think that mainly because they would be insanely long flights (literal antipodes) with little demand
I'm not sure how much rubber they grow in Israel, the UAE, or Qatar.
@ Brent; there are plenty of non-stop flights between Asia and South America. I believe i.e. Dubai and Doha are located in Asia.
Meanwhile, most of the invasive species in the US come from China, which is real Asia, unlike Middle East.
Speaking of unpleasant flights, @Ben not sure if you've seen what surely must be the most unpleasant long haul flight operated by a short haul plane
Buenos Aires - Aruba just announced by Aerolineas Argentinas on a 737 MAX 8. No Wifi or power or entertainment. 8 hours going, 10 hours on the return (with a stop in Cordoba).
I've flown these a fair bit on domestic flights within Argentina, and the premium section...
Speaking of unpleasant flights, @Ben not sure if you've seen what surely must be the most unpleasant long haul flight operated by a short haul plane
Buenos Aires - Aruba just announced by Aerolineas Argentinas on a 737 MAX 8. No Wifi or power or entertainment. 8 hours going, 10 hours on the return (with a stop in Cordoba).
I've flown these a fair bit on domestic flights within Argentina, and the premium section (they call it Premium Economy), is totally fine for a couple of hours. But boy 10 hours on one of these would be rough
link :
https://www.google.com/travel/flights/booking?tfs=CBwQAhpAEgoyMDI2LTAxLTExIiAKA0VaRRIKMjAyNi0wMS0xMRoDQVVBKgJBUjIEMTM3NGoHCAESA0VaRXIHCAESA0FVQUABSAJwAYIBCwj___________8BmAEC&tfu=CmxDalJJUzFGa1VsWmxRWGw1U1dkQlRGUTRPVUZDUnkwdExTMHRMUzB0TFMxMmQzSmpNa0ZCUVVGQlIycEpRMjlGVFU5ZlRrMUJFZ1pCVWpFek56UWFDd2l2bGcwUUFob0RWVk5FT0J4d3I1WU4SAggAIgMKATA
I just flew Air China from Gru-Mad last week. I was surprised on my flight there may have been a mac of only a dozen or so Chinese. The rest were South Americans. I do imagine they will pick up a lot of local traffic and this will be a good value compared to their competitors. I think my Air China flight was 25%+ cheaper than Iberia or Latam.
I miss all the capacity...
I just flew Air China from Gru-Mad last week. I was surprised on my flight there may have been a mac of only a dozen or so Chinese. The rest were South Americans. I do imagine they will pick up a lot of local traffic and this will be a good value compared to their competitors. I think my Air China flight was 25%+ cheaper than Iberia or Latam.
I miss all the capacity chinese carriers flooding the US market with pre pandemic it made costs on competitors for premium lines like Jal, Eva, CX cheaper, similar to the “southwest effect” or when Spirit enters a market (RIP). This probably also helped award travel a but as well creating more space.
Yes because your one flight is totally representative of all the hundreds of other flights a year.
So every other flight must be identical to yours and only have locals.
exactly
Ah. I used to be able to fly Hainan or xiamen under 2k r/t in J to south east Asia with stopover in china.
They offer PJ, similar to book the cook, free wifi. Although service not as refined as JAL or ANA or EVA, I'll save 2k any day.
Those days are long gone... You're lucky if you can get < 2k R/T in Y nowadays originating in China (better cost from south east Asia)
Some mistakes in the article.
First the schedule for the return is not correct for AKL-PVG segment, AKL-PVG does not across international dateline, therefore that flight should arrive on the same day from AKL.
Second, 2AM departure for a long haul flight for this distance is not materially different from departure on 11PM passenger would sleep for the most of the time on the plane given the departure time and flight time for each segment.
Dang. This must be some of the longest trip for the working crew on any regularly scheduled commercial flight. Looks like it’s about a 13-14 day trip total.
They surely have double Crew or change Crew in AKL.
"They surely have double Crew or change Crew in AKL."
Yes, they do. However what JD is including is the time on the ground since the flight is only 2x/week, so the crew will work, say, PVG-AKL, then spend a certain number of days in AKL, then work AKL-EZE, where they will presumably have a layover, then several days later fly EZE-AKL, layover for a few days, and finally work the AKL-PVG route. That would...
"They surely have double Crew or change Crew in AKL."
Yes, they do. However what JD is including is the time on the ground since the flight is only 2x/week, so the crew will work, say, PVG-AKL, then spend a certain number of days in AKL, then work AKL-EZE, where they will presumably have a layover, then several days later fly EZE-AKL, layover for a few days, and finally work the AKL-PVG route. That would equal one very long trip away from home, unless the airline expects crews to work AKL-EZE-AKL with no rest/layover.
Sure, fully agree but they will never be two weeks outside home. Besides, everybody decides what job they want to do. Of course, depending on your family situation. An AKL-EZE-AKL with no layover is just a no-go!
It's lots of hours in one trip. If it were a US carrier all the old boiler FAs would be bidding the daylights out of it.