Storyline: The first flight of a brand new direct air route between China and Argentina touched down in Buenos Aires on Thursday afternoon after undertaking a mammoth day-long trip which included a stopover in New Zealand's Auckland, marking the landmark launch of a vital new service connecting three continents. The China Eastern Airlines' flight MU745 departed the Shanghai Pudong International Airport at 02:19 Beijing time on Thursday and made a two-hour layover in Auckland before arriving at Buenos Aires' Ezeiza International Airport after a total travel time of around 25 hours and 30 minutes. Spanning a distance of some 20,000 kilometers, the route sets a new record for the world's longest one-way flight, while also slashing more than four hours off the previous travel time between China and South America. The inclusion of Auckland along the route is set to bring significant commercial benefits and will help deepen people-to-people exchanges, according to officials in New Zealand. "It is a really momentous occasion, the longest route in the world, connecting our three amazing countries. And as the minister for tourism, it will be great to have more Chinese visitors coming to New Zealand. My colleagues and I have been making changes around visa settings to make it easier for Chinese visitors to come here," said Louise Upston, New Zealand's Tourism and Hospitality Minister. "From South America, through Auckland and China, [it will bring] more visitors. And so, we will gain a commercial benefit from this as well as linking good friends," said Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown. "I think it's a landmark flight. It creates the growth opportunity to connect our three countries," said Carrie Hurihanganui, the chief executive of Auckland Airport. China Eastern Airlines plans to operate two round-trip flights per week, which will depart Shanghai on Mondays and Thursdays, and return from Buenos Aires on Tuesdays and Fridays. Currently, China maintains air links with 83 countries and operates over 900 international flights daily. According to the Civil Aviation Administration of China, during the 2025-2026 winter-spring flight season, passenger flights to Latin America and Africa are expected to see a year-on-year increase of more than 32 percent and 26 percent, respectively, compared to the previous period. Shotlist: Buenos Aires, Argentina - Dec 4, 2025: 1. Passenger plane receiving water cannon salute Auckland, New Zealand - Dec 4, 2025: 2. Various of passenger plane landing, taxiing 3. SOUNDBITE (English) Louise Upston, New Zealand Tourism and Hospitality Minister (partially overlaid with shot 4): "It is a really momentous occasion, the longest route in the world, connecting our three amazing countries. And as the minister for tourism, it will be great to have more Chinese visitors coming to New Zealand. My colleagues and I have been making changes around visa settings to make it easier for Chinese visitors to come here." [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 4. Various of passenger plane taxiing [SHOT OVERLAYING SOUNDBITE] 5. SOUNDBITE (English) Wayne Brown, Auckland Mayor (ending with shot 6): "From South America, through Auckland and China, [it will bring] more visitors. And so, we will gain a commercial benefit from this as well as linking good friends." 6. Passenger plane taxiing 7. SOUNDBITE (English) Carrie Hurihanganui, Auckland Airport Chief Executive (ending with shot 8): "I think it's a landmark flight. It creates the growth opportunity to connect our three countries." 8. Passenger plane taking off [Restrictions: No access Chinese mainland]