China Eastern opens new cargo corridor to South America with Buenos Aires launch

China Eastern Airlines is set to strengthen air logistics links between the Asia-Pacific region and South America as it prepares to introduce scheduled flights to Argentina for the first time. Beginning 4 December, the Shanghai-based carrier will commence a new long-haul service connecting Shanghai Pudong International Airport with Buenos Aires’ Ministro Pistarini International Airport.

The ultra-long route—spanning nearly 19,700 km—will operate twice weekly on Mondays and Thursdays. The flights will be serviced by Boeing 777-300ER aircraft and include a technical stop in Auckland, New Zealand, for refuelling.

Chinese logistics provider World Jaguar Logistics has announced it will offer up to 15 tonnes of weekly cargo capacity on the new link, highlighting the service as a reliable, fast option for freight moving between China and Argentina.

According to reports, China Eastern views the Shanghai–Auckland–Buenos Aires connection as a step toward establishing a new “Air Silk Road” that enhances trade and transport ties between Asia-Pacific and South America.

The launch also comes amid ongoing regulatory discussions in the United States. In October, the US Department of Transportation proposed barring Chinese carriers from using Russian airspace for flights to and from the US, citing competitive imbalance. The proposal remains under review and, at present, applies only to services involving the United States—not to routes connecting with Canada or South America.