The first time I travelled to Argentina to visit Maru was in 2011. It was a direct flight from Auckland to Buenos Aires on Aerolineas Argentinas. In 2012, however, they discontinued the route due to high fuel prices.
There was a three year period with no direct flight.
A few years later in 2015, Air New Zealand added the route, but the pandemic swiftly ended that one. So we were back to no direct flights yet again.
However, yesterday China Eastern Airlines announced it will be adding a direct flight from Auckland to Buenos Aires. The route will originate in Shanghai and stop in Auckland on the way.
Although we live in the UK, it’s really nice to know that there is now only one flight between Argentina and New Zealand. My family could visit Argentina more easily in the future, or it may be possible for me to make it to both places on a single trip.
It makes very long distances feel a little bit shorter.