China Eastern Airlines is planning to operate a 29-hour-long flight from Argentina's capital Buenos Aires to Chinese metropolis Shanghai.
The flight will be operated on a Boeing 777-300 - one of the longest-range commercial aircrafts in the world - but the 12,000-mile distance means that it will be required to stop mid-journey.
The marathon flight will have a two-hour stopover in Auckland, New Zealand but passengers are unlikely to have the opportunity to disembark and stretch their legs.
Tickets won't come cheap as one-way economy tickets for flights in December are being advertised on the China Eastern website for prices between $1,538 and $2,270.
For travellers wanting to upgrade to business class and relax on a lie-flat bed during the flight, it will cost at least $5,000.
Meanwhile, the outbound flight from Shanghai to Buenos Aires is expected to be slightly quicker at 25-and-a-half hours because of prevailing high-altitude winds.
Both flights are scheduled to operate twice weekly with the outbound journey, China Eastern 745, scheduled for Mondays and Thursdays beginning on December 4.
The world's longest direct flight, designated China Eastern 746, is scheduled to take place on Thursdays and Fridays.
The route was first announced in June at a ceremony in Shanghai, where New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon expressed hope that the new route can boost tourism in the country following the challenges of the coronavirus pandemic.
He said: "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."
Meanwhile, Auckland Airport CEO Carrie Hurihanganuai added: "While we have rebuilt our aviation connections with China, visitation is still recovering. Additional flights from Shanghai Pudong, a majorly globally connected hub, supports more travellers not just direct from China but also those connecting via Shanghai from across Asia and Europe into Auckland.
"This new service will reintroduce a direct flight connection between New Zealand and Argentina, enhancing not only tourism, trade and international education, but providing another link home for the 40,000 South Americans who live in New Zealand."
