Wedoany.com Report-Nov. 8, China Eastern Airlines, in collaboration with Auckland Airport and the Latin America New Zealand Business Council, held a promotional event in Auckland on Tuesday to celebrate its new intercontinental route linking Shanghai, Auckland, and Buenos Aires. The event gathered diplomatic and government representatives, including Auckland Mayor Wayne Brown, Argentina’s Ambassador to New Zealand Maria Belen Bogado, and Liu Pengxiang, Vice Consul General of China in Auckland.

The event featured a roundtable forum discussing the strategic significance of the new route for aviation, trade, and cultural cooperation among China, New Zealand, and Latin America. Han Jiang, deputy general manager of Marketing & Sales Oceania at China Eastern Airlines, said: "The new route is a historic milestone in China Eastern's journey of global connectivity, and the first direct air link ever between China and South America. It is more than a flight, it's a symbol of cooperation, exchange, and friendship between China and South America, opening new opportunities for tourism, business, and cultural exchange."

Liu Pengxiang highlighted the route as a reflection of the deepening cooperation between China, New Zealand, and Latin American countries. He said: "The new route will further promote people-to-people exchanges in Northeast Asia, the South Pacific, and South America, expand economic and trade cooperation and cultural exchanges, and enhance Auckland's position as an international aviation hub."

The launch also marked progress toward the “Southern Link” vision, proposed by New Zealand’s business and academic sectors in 2019 to strengthen connectivity between Asia and Latin America via New Zealand. The event included cultural performances from both Chinese and Latin American artists, emphasizing friendship and mutual appreciation that underpin the aviation partnership.

The Shanghai-Auckland-Buenos Aires route is scheduled to begin operations on Dec. 4, with flights running twice weekly from Shanghai to Buenos Aires via Auckland. This new service represents a major step in expanding direct air connectivity between Asia, the South Pacific, and South America, while supporting tourism, trade, and cultural exchange across the regions.

By establishing this route, China Eastern Airlines, together with its partners, aims to enhance Auckland’s role as a key international aviation hub, strengthen economic ties, and promote cross-cultural engagement among the three regions. The route is expected to provide new opportunities for business cooperation, facilitate tourism growth, and foster closer people-to-people links across continents.

The event underlined the importance of aviation in connecting distant regions, creating efficient transport links, and supporting sustainable growth in international travel and commerce. With cultural performances and dialogue among key stakeholders, the launch highlighted how strategic air routes can contribute to global connectivity and mutual understanding.