A record-breaking flight spanning a whopping 29 hours and 12,200 miles is set to be available to the public as soon as this winter. In what has been dubbed the world’s longest direct flight, China Eastern Airlines passengers will fly from the Chinese city of Shanghai to the Argentinian capital of Buenos Aires, stopping at Auckland in New Zealand and taking in more than 12,000 miles.
Frequent flyers will likely be aware that some long-haul flights can last as long as 16 hours, including Singapore-New York if you fly with Singapore Airlines, but the new China-Argentina service is a new record-breaker. Starting from Shanghai, passengers will arrive at their destination in 25 hours and 55 minutes and cover 12,229 miles. That includes a two-and-a-half hour layover in New Zealand. If you’re wondering why it’s referred to as a direct flight when it has such a stop, it’s due to the fact that passengers are not required to switch planes during their journey, retaining their seats throughout.
The return journey will take a whopping 29 hours, again with a stop in Auckland. Estimated costs are upwards of £1,400 for the Buenos Aires to Shanghai leg and £1,280 for Shanghai to Buenos Aires, although reports differ.
Both legs beat the previously-held longest one-stop flight in the world – China Airlines’ Beijing-Sao Paolo route.
For those wondering what type of aircraft is best suited for such a mammoth journey, it’s believed that the honour will go to a plane such as the Boeing 777-300ER, which is classified as a long-range type.
Tickets are now on sale via the airline for flights due to commence on December 4. Offering First, Business and Economy class seats, the flights are set to run twice weekly, Mondays and Thursdays from China and Tuesdays and Fridays from Argentina.
The new flight could serve as “diplomatic and commercial gesture”, one that could potentially bolster links between South America and China while providing a new route away from Europe and the US.
In addition, it could also prove to be a useful link between the regions for those wishing to avoid active conflict areas, as well as having the advantage of having fewer stops.
In other news, a travel expert has recently revealed a simple trick that could save you a huge amount of cash on your next holiday. Andrea Platania, a travel specialist at Transfeero, noted how people underestimate the benefits of traditional travel agents.
He explained: “Plenty of agents promise to beat any price you find online. If you present them with a screenshot of the fare you noticed, even if that price vanishes when you actually attempt to book, many will honour it and match the deal.
“I’ve employed this strategy numerous times when travelling globally, and I’ve genuinely saved hundreds of pounds. It’s such a minor step, but it can make a substantial difference.”