China Eastern Airlines has made aviation history: the airline set a new world record for the longest commercial passenger flight, reducing travel time between China and South America by more than four hours. According to Newsweek, this achievement highlights how rapidly long-haul flight technology is advancing.
In recent years, advancements by aircraft manufacturers — particularly with fuel-efficient, ultra-long-range models like the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787 — have made previously unheard-of direct flights a feasible reality for airlines.
One such breakthrough was China Eastern's MU745 route. The flight departed Shanghai's Pudong International Airport on December 4 at 2:19 a.m. and reached Buenos Aires, marking the airline’s first and undoubtedly longest route in its history. The state carrier officially announced the milestone on social media.
The route employed a Boeing 777-39P aircraft, scheduled to make a planned stop in Auckland, New Zealand, for refueling and crew change before continuing its non-stop long-haul journey.
The Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires route, covering 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) and lasting a total of 25 hours and 30 minutes, has surpassed the previous record. The previous benchmark was Xiamen Airlines' direct flight from New York to Fuzhou, which lasted 19 hours and 20 minutes.
Currently, Singapore Airlines remains one of the leaders in operating the world's longest flights, with routes such as Newark–Singapore (19 hours and 10 minutes) and JFK–Singapore (18 hours and 55 minutes). This is followed by Air New Zealand's Auckland–JFK route, which lasts 17 hours and 45 minutes.
According to Global Times, prior to the introduction of this new "southern route," flights from Shanghai to South America typically passed through North America or Europe, taking nearly 30 hours. The new route has significantly reduced this duration.
China Eastern stated in its announcement:
“The new 20,000-kilometer route fills a gap in direct air travel between Shanghai and major cities in South America. It opens a new air corridor across the Pacific Ocean — the ‘southern corridor’ — and fundamentally transforms the aviation network connecting three continents.”
According to analysts, the aviation industry is likely to continue pushing the boundaries of longer and more innovative flights, meaning this record might not stand for long.
Read “Zamin” on Telegram!
Users of Меҳмон are not allowed to comment this publication.
