Bei Jing Shang Bao·2025-09-15 08:48Core Points - China Eastern Airlines will launch a new route from Shanghai Pudong to Auckland and Buenos Aires on December 4, marking the world's first commercial flight connecting antipodal cities and setting a record for the longest single-route flight [1][3] Group 1: Route Details - The inaugural flight will operate using a Boeing 777 aircraft, with round-trip flight numbers MU745 and MU746, departing Shanghai every Monday and Thursday at 2:00 AM Beijing time and arriving in Buenos Aires at 4:30 PM local time after approximately 25 hours and 30 minutes [3] - The return flight will leave Buenos Aires at 2:00 AM local time and arrive in Shanghai at 6:00 PM Beijing time the following day [3] Group 2: Advantages of the New Route - The new route reduces the travel time from nearly 30 hours to 25 hours by utilizing a "southbound route" via New Zealand, compared to the traditional "northbound route" that requires layovers in Europe or North America [3] - The New Zealand government will allow Chinese passport holders to transit through Auckland without a visa for stays under 24 hours starting November 2025, enhancing the convenience for travelers [3] - The "one-stop" operation by China Eastern Airlines through Auckland minimizes layover times and reduces the impact of time zone differences, alleviating fatigue during long-haul flights [3]