29-hour flight from China to Argentina sets new record for longest passenger flight

The title of the world's longest commercial flight now belongs to China Eastern Airlines.

The newly completed Shanghai, China to Buenos Aires, Argentina route covers approximately 20,000 kilometres, reported China Daily.

The ultra-long-haul flight from China to Argentina spans a total of 25 hours, with the return leg requiring an additional four hours.

The lengthy 29-hour flight was conducted on a 316-seater Boeing 777-300ER, reported The Independent.

The journey only stops midway in Auckland, New Zealand, to refuel and rotate airline crew.

Around half of the globe's circumference

The maiden flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport on Dec. 4, 2025, at 2am local time.

It landed 10 minutes ahead of schedule at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires on the same day at 4:45pm local time.

The journey semicircles around the globe and is the first commercial route to link two almost antipodal cities, according to China Daily.

Antipodes are points on Earth that are diametrically opposite each other. 

It is also the first route to directly connect the eastern and western hemispheres, said China Daily.

China Eastern states that the Shanghai–Buenos Aires route will depart on Mondays and Thursdays from Shanghai. 

The return flights leave Buenos Aires every Tuesday and Friday.

The airline stated that, compared to the traditional northbound route with transfers in Europe or North America, the new southbound route shortens travel time from 30 hours to around 25 hours.

Title of longest non-stop flight still held by SIA

While China Eastern's Shanghai-Buenos Aires route is considered the longest passenger flight, the journey is segmented into two approximately 11.5-hour flights due to the Auckland stopover.

Therefore, the title of longest non-stop commercial flight is still currently held by Singapore Airlines.

The 19-hour Singapore-New York route will only be dethroned by Qantas in 2027, reported BBC.

Qantas' Sydney-London flight is expected to take 22 hours.

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Top photo from David Syphers/Unsplash.