China Eastern Airlines will launch the world's longest commercial flight on December 4, connecting Shanghai, Auckland and Buenos Aires.

The route will cover nearly 20,000 kilometers in about 25.5 hours. The airline will use Boeing 777 wide-body jets.

Flights MU745 and MU746 will operate twice a week. Departures from Shanghai Pudong International Airport are scheduled for 2am on Mondays and Thursdays. The service will arrive in the Argentine capital at 4:30pm local time the same day. The return flight will leave Buenos Aires at 2am and land in Shanghai at 6pm the next day.

The new service is the first to link two "antipode" cities, which are located on opposite sides of the Earth. Shanghai and Buenos Aires are among the few city pairs with this distinction.

China and South America currently lack direct flights due to long distances and aircraft limits. Travelers usually connect through Europe or North America, taking close to 30 hours. The new "southern route" via Auckland will cut travel time by about four hours.

New Zealand has announced that Chinese travelers transiting through Auckland to a third country for less than 24 hours will only need an electronic travel authorization (NZeTA) starting in November.

The permit costs 17 New Zealand dollars (US$10) and is valid for two years, reducing the need for separate transit visas.

China Eastern has secured fifth freedom rights on the route, allowing it to carry passengers and cargo between Auckland and Buenos Aires.

Other ultra-long flights

China Eastern's new service will surpass today's longest non-stop routes. According to OAG, a global travel data provider, the top 10 are:

Singapore-New York (JFK): 15,348 kilometers, 18 hours 40 minutes, operated by Singapore Airlines with Airbus A350.

Singapore-New York (Newark): 15,326 kilometers, 18 hours 25 minutes, also by Singapore Airlines.

Doha-Auckland: 14,533 kilometers, 17 hours 20 minutes, by Qatar Airways on Boeing 777.

Perth-London: 14,500 kilometers, 17 hours 30 minutes, by Qantas on Boeing 787-9.

Melbourne-Dallas: 14,471 kilometers, 17 hours 15 minutes, by Qantas on Boeing 787-9.

Perth-Paris: 14,264 kilometers, 17 hours 10 minutes, by Qantas on Boeing 787-9.

Auckland-New York: 14,207 kilometers, 16 hours 10 minutes, by Air New Zealand on Boeing 787-9.

Dubai-Auckland: 14,201 kilometers, 15 hours 45 minutes, by Emirates on Airbus A380.

Shenzhen-Mexico City: 14,147 kilometers, 15 hours 50 minutes, by China Southern on Airbus A350.

Singapore-Los Angeles: 14,114 kilometers, 16 hours 5 minutes, by Singapore Airlines on Airbus A350.