China Eastern Airlines will launch a 25-hour flight route between Shanghai and Buenos Aires on December 4, marking the first direct air connection between China and Latin America via the southern hemisphere, Aviation24 reported. The service will traverse 20,000km with a single transit stop in Auckland, New Zealand.
The new route promises to cut travel time by up to five hours compared to traditional connections through the United States or Europe, while New Zealand has waived transit visa requirements for Chinese passengers to strengthen Auckland's role as a southern hub for Asia-South America travel.
China Eastern will deploy Boeing 777-300ER aircraft for the twice-weekly service, placing over 65,000 seats annually on the market, approaching the 57,800 passengers who travelled between China and Argentina last year. The eastbound journey will take nearly 29 hours, several hours longer than the westbound leg.
The launch reflects deepening China-Latin America economic ties, with bilateral trade surging from $12bn in 2000 to $515bn in 2024, as noted by the South China Morning Post. Argentina's imports from China rose from $330mn in 2002 to $17.5bn in 2022, with overall bilateral trade reaching $16.35bn in 2024.
This development comes as President Javier Milei has shifted toward a more pragmatic approach with Beijing after initially promising to distance Argentina from China. Following Beijing's temporary suspension of a currency swap deal in late 2023, Milei renegotiated the agreement and loosened visa rules for Chinese travellers. The new air route represents both operational efficiency and strategic positioning as China expands its influence in Latin America, potentially challenging traditional U.S. dominance in what has long been considered America's backyard.
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