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China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777

China Eastern’s 29-Hour “Direct” Epic: Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires Takes Off

September 16, 2025 John Cushma 33
China Eastern Airlines Boeing 777

ID 229975990 | China Eastern Airlines © VanderWolfImages | Dreamstime.com

China Eastern will open a Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires service this December, stitching together a fifth-freedom hop between New Zealand and Argentina and creating what’s arguably the world’s longest “direct” flight by elapsed time under a single flight number.

The basics

PVG-AKL-EZE

Schedules & block times

Eastbound (Mon, Thu)

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  • MU745 Shanghai (PVG) 02:00 → Auckland (AKL) 18:30

  • MU745 Auckland (AKL) 20:55 → Buenos Aires (EZE) 16:55
    Total block: just under 26 hours

Westbound (Tue, Fri)

Note: “Direct” here means one flight number with an intermediate stop, not nonstop. This is the same convention used by many tag-on long-hauls.

Why this matters

  • First MU service to South America: China Eastern becomes the second mainland Chinese carrier with a South America footprint (Air China does PEK–MAD–GRU, the “other way” around the globe).

  • Fifth-freedom opportunity: The AKL–EZE sector returns after a multi-year absence, last seen on Air New Zealand (2015–2020) and, earlier, Aerolíneas Argentinas (ended 2012).

  • A very long day: With a 02:00 departure from PVG and a 29-hour westbound return, this is one of the most grueling single-number itineraries anywhere.

Who this helps

  • China ↔ New Zealand O&D: More PVG capacity into Auckland with onward options across Asia and Europe via Shanghai.

  • New Zealand ↔ Argentina: A rare, same-plane link between Oceania and the Southern Cone, complementing LATAM’s AKL–SCL option.

  • Asia/Europe ↔ Argentina via PVG: Two weekly flows for price-sensitive travelers willing to trade frequency for a potentially competitive fare.

The onboard experience (what to expect)

  • First Class: 6 suites up front; limited cabin makes upgrades and award space scarce.

  • Business Class: 52 fully-flat seats in a 1-2-1 layout on MU’s 77W; long stretches over open water make sleep quality, bedding, and meal pacing especially important.

  • Economy: 258 seats; pack smart for a marathon—neck pillow, layers, hydration strategy, and something to watch beyond the IFE catalogue.

Competitive landscape

  • Past operators on AKL–EZE: Air New Zealand (2015–2020) and Aerolíneas Argentinas (until 2012).

  • Today’s alternates: Most travelers connect AKL–SCL on LATAM and continue to Argentina, or detour via North America/Europe/Middle East.

  • Alliance angles: China Eastern sits in SkyTeam alongside Aerolíneas Argentinas, which could unlock downstream connectivity inside Argentina if commercial cooperation materializes. Auckland feed is less obvious given Air New Zealand’s Star Alliance alignment.

Practicalities and fine print

  • Transit rules in Auckland: Even “direct” through flights often require security re-screening, and some nationalities need an NZeTA or transit permission. Check requirements carefully before booking.

  • Fifth-freedom ticketing: AKL–EZE can be sold standalone; pricing can be attractive on less-frequent services, but recovery options after irregular ops are limited at 2x weekly.

  • Seats and miles: As a SkyTeam carrier, MU awards and accrual typically flow to partners (Delta, Air France-KLM, etc.), but earn/burn rates depend on fare class—verify before you purchase.

  • Weather and alternates: The Southern Ocean and South Pacific bring winter weather and strong winds; block times already bake in conservative planning, but delays on such long patterns cascade.

Why this routing, and why now

  • Politics and tourism: Announced during a Shanghai ceremony attended by New Zealand’s Prime Minister, the flight is pitched as a tourism and trade catalyst—New Zealand officials estimate tens of millions in incremental annual spend.

  • Network economics: Fifth-freedom tags let airlines “stitch” two markets with one frame, reducing risk versus launching a separate nonstop. Twice-weekly keeps aircraft utilization high without flooding a niche city-pair.

Booking tips for a marathon “direct”

  • If time matters most: Consider mixed-carrier options via Santiago, São Paulo, or North America/Europe that offer daily frequencies and more re-accommodation paths.

  • If price and novelty tempt you: The AKL–EZE sector could be a sweet-spot fare. Aim for the cabin that matches your sleep needs—on a 29-hour itinerary, rest is value.

  • If you’re connecting beyond EZE: Build buffers. A 2x-weekly long-haul gives you fewer same-day rescue options.

Bottom line

China Eastern’s Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires launch is bold, niche, and very long. It reopens a rare Oceania–Argentina bridge, gives New Zealand another China gateway, and hands av-geeks a new fifth-freedom trophy flight. For everyone else, it’s a fresh way to price and plan a trans-Pacific–South Atlantic odyssey—if you’re ready for a 26–29-hour “direct” journey under a single flight number.

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