Asger Risom
A new ultra-long-haul service has taken flight, setting a benchmark for the longest commercial journey currently available.
A new ultra-long-haul service has taken flight, setting a benchmark for the longest commercial journey currently available. The route spans nearly half the Earth’s circumference and links three continents through a carefully coordinated schedule.
Its debut marks a significant shift in global connectivity as airlines push the limits of long-distance travel.
Marathon route launched
China Eastern Airlines has completed its first 29-hour service between Shanghai and Buenos Aires, according to reporting from The Independent. The flight departed at 2am local time on 4 December and landed ten minutes early at Ezeiza International Airport.
The journey covers roughly 12,400 miles and includes a stop in Auckland for refuelling and crew changes. While the pause prevents it from claiming the title of longest direct flight, it still qualifies as the world’s longest commercial route by total travel time.
Festivities were held in Shanghai, Auckland and Buenos Aires to celebrate the milestone.
Connecting three continents
The 316 seat Boeing 777 300ER will now operate twice weekly year round. China Eastern said the service supports Argentina’s rapidly growing East Asian diaspora and fills a gap in direct links between Shanghai and major South American hubs.
In a statement, the airline said the new service “opens a southbound corridor connecting opposite ends of the Pacific and reshapes air travel between three continents.”
Until now, the longest scheduled commercial service was Singapore Airlines’ 19 hour New York to Singapore flight.
Airlines pursue even longer flights
The industry is competing to extend ranges further. Qantas has announced plans for its “Project Sunrise” services, targeting routes between Sydney, London and New York. The project involves aircraft equipped with larger fuel tanks capable of up to 22 hours non stop.
Qantas has described the planned London to Sydney leg, slated for 2027 and covering more than 10,500 miles, as the “final frontier of long haul travel.”
Sources: The Independent; China Eastern Airlines.
