The Chinese airline China Eastern will launch, starting December 4, the longest direct flight in the world, connecting Shanghai with Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina.

Flights will take place twice a week and have recently been approved by the Argentine government. The route of approximately 20,000 kilometers will take 25.5 hours on departure and 29 hours on return, however, it will not be a non-stop flight. The Boeing 777-300ER will make a technical stop in Auckland, New Zealand, for refueling and crew change, and passengers will be able to leave the aircraft for a short period. This new route represents competition for Lufthansa, which already offers connecting flights between the two cities.