World's longest plane journey of 29 hours takes flight covering 12,400 miles
The world's longest plane journey of 29 hours has officially been completed.
The difference between a short flight and a long one can be dramatic.
You might reach a nearby destination in Europe in the time it takes to watch a film, while getting to the other side of the world requires some patience.
Now, a new record has been set for the longest passenger flight using a single aircraft with one stop.
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The world’s longest commercial flight lasted 29 hours and covered 12,400 miles, which is roughly half the Earth's circumference.
At 2am local time on 4 December, the China Eastern Airlines flight left Shanghai, touching down 10 minutes early at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires at 4.45pm local time.
As the plane stopped over in Auckland, New Zealand, for fuel and airline crew rotation, the event couldn't claim the title of the world’s longest direct flight route.
However, the journey still took a whopping 29 hours all the way from China to Argentina and marked the world’s longest commercial flight route. The service surpassed Singapore Airlines' 19-hour service between New York and Singapore, which previously held the record.
Both Shanghai and Buenos Aires marked the historic occasion with celebrations, and Auckland held a welcoming ceremony when the aircraft landed for its stopover.
The twice-weekly, year-round service uses a Boeing 777-300ER with capacity for 316 passengers. Its primary market is Argentina's East Asian community, which represents one of South America's fastest-growing populations.
“This new route fills the gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities,” China Eastern Airlines stated.“It opens a ‘southbound corridor’ connecting opposite ends of the Pacific and reshapes air travel between three continents.”
The airline added: "The Shanghai Pudong-Auckland-Buenos Aires route is seen as an important measure to build a new 'Air Silk Road' channel between Asia-Pacific and South America."
According to previous reports, ticket prices for the new route range from £1,130 to £1,670 ($1,525 to $2,254) for economy class, while business class tickets cost approximately £3,700 ($4,994).
Before the new route launched, those travelling between China and Argentina faced journeys exceeding 30 hours with multiple connections. Meanwhile, popular Australian airline Qantas has announced plans for 'Project Sunrise' flights connecting Sydney, London and New York. The aircraft would be capable of flying up to 22 hours non-stop, thanks to its additional 20,000 litre fuel tank.
It's expected to launch in 2027, covering 10,573 miles as 'the final frontier of aviation.'
On Qantas' website, it reads: "Project Sunrise will deliver more direct routes to Australia, significantly reduced point-to-point travel time (up to four hours compared with 1-stop flights) and a flying experience second to none – with a cabin interior and service design influenced by medical and scientific research carried out on research flights."