China Eastern launches record-long one-stop passenger flight from Shanghai to Buenos Aires

“Booking data for the 12 months to July 2025 shows 90,000 round-trip passengers flew between China and Buenos Aires. With 24,000 passengers, Shanghai was the second most popular market. While it'll capture some of the wider Chinese demand, its two-stop service (in Shanghai and Auckland) will be less competitive, offset by its relatively low fares, even for very long flights. It will also stimulate the local Shanghai traffic, partly helped by Argentinians now being able to visit China visa-free for up to 30 days.”

Traffic between Auckland and Buenos Aires has dropped from around 31,000 passengers in 2019 to about 11,000 currently—a decline attributed to there being no nonstop service since early in the COVID-19 pandemic. The reintroduction of direct connectivity by China Eastern is expected to boost these numbers.

Previously, Aerolíneas Argentinas operated flights between Auckland and Buenos Aires with Airbus A340s until it exited New Zealand in 2012. Air New Zealand subsequently launched services in 2015 with Boeing aircraft but later withdrew from this market as well.

Unlike previous operators who partnered with local airlines for regional connections—such as Air New Zealand's collaboration with Aerolíneas Argentinas—China Eastern is launching this route without such partnerships despite both carriers being members of SkyTeam.

The new service becomes only the second through-flight linking East Asia directly with South America; Air China currently operates Beijing Capital-Madrid-São Paulo three times per week using Boeing 787-9s on journeys blocked at up to about twenty-five hours. Argentina last saw direct Asian airline service in 2012 when Malaysia Airlines served Kuala Lumpur-Cape Town-Buenos Aires routes.

For more information about previous operations on similar routes or trends in global aviation markets involving these cities or regions, see additional coverage at https://simpleflying.com/air-new-zealand-auckland-buenos-aires-history/.

“China Eastern Airlines

IATA Code MU

ICAO Code CES

Airline Type Full Service Carrier

Hub(s) Shanghai Pudong International Airport

Year Founded 1988”