by Chen Yao, Zhang Duo and Jia Yuankun
BUENOS AIRES/SHANGHAI, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- In the early hours of Friday, the third direct return flight linking China and Argentina departed from Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital, bound for Shanghai Pudong International Airport, marking the successful completion of the first week of operations of this "southern route" that spans three continents and covers approximately 20,000 kilometers.
The third flight reflects the completely smooth execution of the new route and the initial release of market potential. The "Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires" route, operated by China Eastern Airlines, has not only set a record as the world's longest commercial flight route but also, like an aerial bridge spanning the Southern Hemisphere and East Asia, is unlocking strong potential for the exchange of people, trade and culture.
FROM NOVELTY TO NORMALCY
In the early hours of Dec. 4, a China Eastern Airlines aircraft departed from Shanghai Pudong International Airport and, after a stopover in Auckland, New Zealand, continued its journey to Buenos Aires, marking the official launch of this direct route. This filled the historical gap in direct flights between Shanghai and major South American cities and opened a "southern corridor" across the Pacific Ocean.
Due to the extremely long distance and aircraft performance limitations, it was previously virtually impossible to fly directly from China to South America, necessitating multiple layovers. The new route significantly shortens the journey, which previously took nearly 30 hours, reducing overall travel time and minimizing the impact of jet lag caused by repeated connections.
The inaugural flight's high occupancy rate of 96 percent demonstrated strong market enthusiasm. By the third flight, this enthusiasm had begun to shift from initial "novelty" toward more pragmatic travel and business planning.
Liu Yanan, assistant to the general manager of network revenue at China Eastern Airlines' Marketing Department, noted that there has recently been a notable increase in inquiries from South American entrepreneurs seeking to travel to China via this route to study the market or attend trade fairs. The new connection not only shortens the geographical distance but also reduces psychological distance and opportunity costs, promoting people-to-people exchanges and commercial interactions between the two countries, and between China and the entire South American region.
FROM INAUGURAL GIFT TO STEADY FLOW
Fu Damao, deputy general manager of the cold-chain division of China Eastern Airlines Logistics, said the first return flight transported 2.1 tons of Argentine cherries and 10.5 tons of fresh Chilean salmon in the cargo hold of the passenger aircraft. These high-quality South American products were warmly received by Chinese netizens as an "inaugural gift" brought via the direct flight.
Latest operational data show that the cargo volume of the second outbound flight increased by 76.6 percent compared to the inaugural flight, with significant growth in e-commerce goods and precision instruments. The second and third return flights continued to steadily transport high-quality fresh products from South America.
For Hernan De Bellis, CEO of Extraberries, the establishment of a direct air link represents a fundamental change for cherries, whose value depends heavily on freshness and timely access to highly competitive markets such as China.
"This is very positive, especially because our main attribute is the freshness of our fruit, and having a direct flight that can best maintain the quality, flavor, and appearance of the cherries is a differential that Extraberries constantly seeks to provide a better product to the consumer," De Bellis told Xinhua in an interview.
With the Shanghai-Buenos Aires direct route now operational, Extraberries has identified new growth opportunities by planning new distribution models for retail, e-commerce platforms, and clients requiring fast and precise last-mile delivery.
"For Extraberries, the opportunity opens up to supply retailers, e-commerce and various clients who need to have last-mile logistics secured in terms of arrival times, in addition to maintaining the freshness of the fruits," De Bellis said.
De Bellis further said that, thanks to the new flights, many Argentine companies see Shanghai as a logistics hub to enter the entire Asian market, thereby facilitating expansion into markets that were previously almost inaccessible to Argentine companies.
Fu said the drastic reduction in time and the "one plane all the way" model effectively reduce cargo damage risk and improve supply chain reliability. He believed the significance of the new route lies in providing a stable, efficient, and cost-effective logistics solution.
It is expected that this route can reliably transport between 80 and 100 tons of quality South American products to China each month, Fu said.
FROM CONNECTIVITY TO MULTISECTOR SYNERGY
The opening of the route is not the final goal, but the starting point for more comprehensive cooperation. China Eastern Airlines has signed an agreement with Argentine Airlines to cooperate on more than 50 routes through code-sharing and other modalities, further expanding its global network.
Professionals from the Chinese and Argentine tourism sectors said that the new route will provide more efficient support for exchanges related to sporting events, academic forums, and tourism promotions, which could generate a "combined effect." Cooperation in multiple areas such as commerce, tourism, culture, sports, and exhibitions is expected to give rise to this "combined effect."
Celeste Toricez and Feng Ziqian, specialists in China-Argentina tourism, collaborate with local agencies to offer differentiated trips and experiences such as tango dinner shows and alternative tours beyond Argentina's traditional circuits -- a segment strengthened by the new connectivity.
"The low season in the Northern Hemisphere is an advantage for attracting Chinese tourists with high purchasing power who seek unique destinations; Argentina, being a distant destination, becomes an attractive place for these travelers, and we provide them with key information, so their experience is safe and enriching," they told Xinhua.
From the excitement surrounding the inaugural flight to the calm arrival of the third, the world's longest commercial route has now become part of the global aviation network and international trade system.
Liu said the route is not merely a shortcut saving several hours of flight time, but a bridge fostering people-to-people exchanges, commercial cooperation, and mutual learning. As flight frequency increases and cooperation deepens, this "aerial bridge" spanning the Global South is expected to continuously unlock its interconnectivity potential. Enditem
(Xinhua reporters Li Jiaxu in Beijing, Wang Zhongyi in Buenos Aires and Di Chun in Shanghai also contributed to the story.)
