China has officially entered the record books with the launch of the world’s longest one-way commercial flight. In the early hours of Thursday, China Eastern Airlines inaugurated flight MU745, a groundbreaking ultra-long-haul route that significantly enhances air connectivity between Asia and South America.
The flight departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and is routed via Auckland, New Zealand, before continuing to its final destination — Buenos Aires, Argentina. Covering nearly 20,000 kilometers and crossing both hemispheres twice, the service sets a new global distance record for a one-way flight, the airline announced in a press release.
Beyond breaking aviation records, the new route also reduces travel time between China and South America by more than four hours. Traditionally, passengers traveling between the two regions were forced to transit through Europe or North America, resulting in lengthy trips of around 30 hours. The newly introduced “southern corridor” — which uses Auckland as a stopover point — shortens total travel duration to approximately 25 hours.
China Eastern will operate two round-trip flights per week on this route. The airline notes that the service not only fills the longstanding gap in direct connectivity between Shanghai and major South American hubs but also establishes a major new air bridge linking Asia, Oceania, and South America.
According to the airline, limitations in aircraft performance and extreme distances have historically prevented true non-stop routes between China and South America. The new route over the Pacific is designed specifically to overcome these challenges, offering passengers a faster and more streamlined travel option.
With this launch, China Eastern Airlines strengthens its global footprint while reshaping long-distance travel patterns across three continents.
