A Chinese carrier has launched the world’s longest one-way commercial flight, significantly reducing travel time between China and South America, according to Chinese media.
China Eastern Airlines’ flight MU745 departed Shanghai Pudong in the early hours, bound for Auckland, New Zealand, before continuing on to Buenos Aires, Argentina. Covering nearly 20,000 kilometers and crossing both hemispheres and continents, the route sets a new global record for one-way flight distance, the airline said.
Operating twice weekly, the new service not only marks the longest flight path globally but also opens a direct air link from Shanghai to major South American destinations. It establishes a new “southbound corridor” across the Pacific, improving connectivity among Asia, Oceania and South America.
Due to the extreme distance and aircraft limitations, flights between China and South America traditionally require stops. By using a southern corridor with a layover in Auckland—rather than the previous northern routes through Europe or North America—the journey is shortened from about 30 hours to roughly 25, providing faster and more convenient travel options, according to the airline.
