Shanghai and Buenos Aires sit on opposite ends of the Earth, making the new service the first commercial route linking two antipodal cities and the longest one-way flight globally.

According to the Shanghai-based carrier, the new route spans 20,000 kilometers and, for the first time, directly connects the eastern and western hemispheres, reducing the total travel time between the two cities to around 25 hours.

China Eastern said the Shanghai–Buenos Aires route will operate regularly every Monday and Thursday from Shanghai, with return flights departing Buenos Aires every Tuesday and Friday.

Due to the extreme distance and current aircraft performance limits, the route includes a stopover in New Zealand. Compared with the traditional northbound routes requiring transfers in Europe or North America, the new southbound path shortens the journey from nearly 30 hours to about 25 hours. Passengers will also benefit from visa-free transit in Auckland and a smaller time difference upon arrival, the airline added.