The World's Longest Route. China Eastern Airlines. Photo: Markus Mainka / Shutterstock China Eastern Launches Longest Route
The Chinese airline China Eastern Airlines is preparing to launch one of the most astonishing routes in the history of civil aviation.
This historic route will take off for the first time, becoming the longest flight route globally, a journey that traverses nearly the entire Earth and lasts roughly 25 continuous hours.
The uninterrupted journey will begin from Buenos Aires in Argentina, pass through Auckland in New Zealand, and end in Shanghai, China, covering about 20,000 km in approximately 25 hours, marking a historic milestone in the aviation industry.
The new route will commence operations on December 4, under flight numbers MU746 and MU745, connecting two antipodal cities – one end of the Earth to the other. This is not only a record-breaking flight in terms of distance and air time but also a massive logistical and operational achievement requiring meticulous coordination throughout the route.
It is an exceptional flight route by its magnitude: more than 20,000 kilometers, connecting two distant cities almost at opposite ends of the globe.
The route is considered a new world record expected to challenge the physics and logistics limits of the aviation world, providing passengers with an unprecedented experience.
The Chinese airline emphasizes that the move is not just a symbolic achievement but part of a broader strategic initiative aimed at strengthening global connectivity. The new route is expected to offer passengers a continuous, efficient, and unique path, saving connections and positioning China Eastern at the forefront of innovation and ambition in global aviation.
Competition for the Long Skies
China Eastern's move places it directly against giants like Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific, which operate particularly long routes, including the famous Singapore–New York route (approximately 18 hours of flight).
The launch of the world's longest route not only redefines the limits of the possible but also creates new competition between airlines for prestige titles and attracting passengers seeking extraordinary routes.
During the long journey, passengers will enjoy an aircraft equipped with new technologies, advanced entertainment systems, personalized service, and rest amenities to make the 25 hours pass in relative comfort. The company sees this move as part of the vision to provide passengers with an innovative and exclusive flight experience that will change the perception of air travel.
The anticipated launch arouses great interest in the international aviation community, representing a historical milestone demonstrating how the aviation world continues to expand and reinvent itself, even in an era of sustainability challenges, high fuel costs, and market constraints.