China Eastern prepares inaugural Buenos Aires-Shanghai flight for December 2025
A delegation of 8 China Eastern Airlines executives visited Ezeiza on September 23 to coordinate operational aspects of the first direct commercial flight between Argentina and China. This historic route positions Argentina as a strategic hub for Chinese tourism in South America, a market characterized by high average spending and extended stays.
Essential operational information
- Start: December 4, 2025
- Frequency: 2 weekly flights
- Aircraft: Boeing 777-300 (three classes)
- Route: Buenos Aires-Auckland-Shanghai
- Duration: 25 hours EZE-PVG / 29 hours PVG-EZE
- Stop: 2 hours Auckland (mandatory disembarkation)
Key operational advantages for wholesalers
This direct connectivity eliminates the need to transit through Europe or the United States, routes traditionally requiring additional visas and multiple connections. For the first time, the entire Argentina-China journey is managed under a single reservation and aircraft, drastically reducing risks of missed connections, lost baggage and operational complexity.
The technical Auckland stop, though mandatory with disembarkation, presents an additional opportunity: designing tri-destination Argentina-New Zealand-China packages. For Chinese tourists taking one or two long trips annually, this possibility of maximizing destinations in a single itinerary is especially attractive. China Eastern is a SkyTeam member (along with Aerolíneas Argentinas), facilitating code-sharing, miles accumulation and domestic Argentina connectivity under a single ticket.
Critical regulatory considerations
All passengers must process the NZeTA electronic permit for New Zealand, even in transit, it’s a online process with typical approval in 72 hours. This requirement and cost must be included in pre-trip instructions and, depending on your service model, in package pricing.
Argentina currently maintains visa exemption for China until May 2026 for tourism. Extension or permanence of this policy is expected given growing bilateral ties. Passengers of other nationalities must verify specific requirements according to country of origin.
Total travel time must be clearly communicated: 25-29 hours including stopover. Though extensive, it’s comparable or less than routes with multiple connections via Europe or Middle East, with the advantage of remaining on the same aircraft.
Chinese tourism market opportunity
The Chinese outbound market represents one of the most significant opportunities for South American inbound tourism. Chinese tourists spend 20-30% more than visitors from traditional markets, with 10-15 day stays in South America. This high-value profile means each client represents significantly higher revenue than average.
70% prefer organized tours with guide, generating clear opportunities for wholesalers and receptives specialized in groups. They seek authentic experiences, UNESCO sites, and impressive natural attractions: Iguazu Falls, Patagonian glaciers, Buenos Aires tango, and unique landscapes completely different from Asia.
A crucial aspect: Chinese tourists rarely travel exclusively to Argentina. They typically combine the destination with Chile, Brazil and Peru in comprehensive 12-15 day itineraries. This preference makes Buenos Aires a strategic hub from where groups redistribute to other countries, generating opportunities for Argentine operators and regional counterparts.
Travel seasons from China
Seasons are marked by specific vacation periods: Golden Week in October (Chinese National Week), Chinese New Year in January-February (extended family vacations), and Chinese summer July-August (families with students). Operations starting in December perfectly captures Chinese high season beginning, coinciding with austral summer.
Argentina leads regional competitors
Buenos Aires becomes the first South American capital with direct flight to mainland China, ahead of Brazil and Chile. This leadership position allows capturing tourist flows later distributed to neighboring countries, generating regional multiplier effect. Argentina’s favorable immigration policy (visa-free for Chinese) perfectly complements this connectivity, while other regional countries still require visas.
A 30-40% increase in Chinese tourist arrivals is projected during the first year. This growth will generate spillover effect in neighboring countries, as most take multi-destination circuits. Hotels, restaurants, excursions and the entire tourism ecosystem can anticipate higher demand and need for specialized infrastructure: Mandarin guides, service adaptation, Chinese signage.
How Trips SouthAmerica can help you capitalize on this opportunity
Trips SouthAmerica has the expertise and resources to help you succeed:
- Customized itineraries for Indian market.
- 24/7 operational support.
- Marketing tools for market promotion.
Contact Us
📧 Email: info@tripssouthamerica.com
🌐 Website: www.tripssouthamerica.com
📍 Based in Argentina, supporting global travel professionals
