China Eastern Airlines is launching something very different – a service from Shanghai to Buenos Aires, operating via Auckland.
China Eastern Airlines plans to connect its hub at Shanghai Pudong Airport to Buenos Aires Ezeiza Airport via Auckland Airport, starting from December 2025, subject to governmental approvals. This marks an expansion of China Eastern’s services through Auckland (which has been operational for a decade).
The airline plans to commence the route with an initial two services per week from Shanghai to Auckland, which will fly onward to Buenos Aires, Argentina. This is in addition to its current daily Shanghai to Auckland service.
China Eastern Airlines also operates flights from Hangzhou to Auckland and from Hangzhou via Sydney to Auckland.
In Quotes
New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said
“Our government’s announcement to make it easier for Chinese travellers to transit via New Zealand makes a route from China via New Zealand a more attractive option for both tourists and airlines.
“This new connection to Auckland between the dynamic economies of Asia and South America, is a great step forward and will support a more resilient and diverse aviation network that benefits travellers, trade, and tourism.
“As a country we are working hard to grow tourism back to 2019 levels and beyond, because doing so will drive economic growth right across the country. This new route is estimated to bring an additional $48 million in annual visitor spend to New Zealand.”
That’s a little different
The introduction of the Auckland-Buenos Aires route is a significant development, enabling trade between China and New Zealand, as well as with South America, while serving the growing global travel needs of travellers.
It’s going to have a route to itself, with most transpacific traffic from Auckland heading to North America, New Caledonia, French Polynesia and Fiji, with the only South American service being Santiago (operated by LATAM Chile).
That should offer some very different connectivity options for those travellers and cargo needing to head to South America. That’s important, as traffic between New Zealand and South America has failed to recover since 2020.
It’ll be interesting to see if Air New Zealand responds, or if other airlines wish to take a fifth-freedom chance to fly to South America from New Zealand.
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