China Eastern Airlines Inaugurates New ‘Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires’ Route, Constructing an ‘Air Bridge’ Across the Pacific
SHANGHAI, December 11, 2025 — China Eastern Airlines (CEA, ) launched its new Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires route on December 4. The launch flight, operated by CEA’s “National Museum of China” themed aircraft, transported 282 passengers on a 20,000-kilometer journey. This new route is the first direct service from Shanghai to a major South American city, establishing a new “southbound passage” across the Pacific and providing an alternative to conventional transfer routes via Europe or North America. Previously taking up to 30 hours, the journey now takes approximately 25 hours, setting a new record as the world’s longest one-way commercial flight.
CEA uses Boeing 777-300ER wide-body aircraft to service this route. Flight MU745 (Shanghai to Buenos Aires) departs on Mondays and Thursdays, while the return flight MU746 leaves on Tuesdays and Fridays. The “National Museum of China” exterior design—created collaboratively by CEA and the National Museum of China—features patterns drawn from the museum’s iconic artifacts, leading to its nickname “an art gallery in the sky.”
Prior to the flight’s departure, CEA held a short launch ceremony at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, complete with Argentine-themed decorations and souvenir gifts. Passengers on the first flight savored special drinks blending South American and Chinese flavors, along with Argentine dishes like chilled Argentine red shrimp, M5 steak, and roasted chicken. To enhance its international services, CEA has added a Spanish-language hotline (+86-21-20695530) that offers end-to-end assistance for travelers.
More than just a new air corridor, this route connects three continents. With fifth freedom rights secured, CEA can manage passenger and cargo transfers in Auckland without a plane change, facilitating trade between China, New Zealand, and Argentina. The airline has also introduced a direct cold-chain delivery channel from Argentina to China. On the return trip, the aircraft carried 2.1 tonnes of Argentine cherries and 10.5 tonnes of fresh Chilean salmon to China. Additionally, the route is expected to capitalize on the complementary seasons of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, drawing travelers to experience distinct climates and landscapes on the opposite side of the globe. This will inject fresh momentum into cultural exchanges between the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, building an “air bridge” across the Pacific Ocean.
Contact: Fang Ying
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Source: China Eastern Airlines
