The Shortest Flight in the World Is Only 60 Seconds

An island getaway certainly sounds appealing, but it usually entails embarking on a long-haul flight heading somewhere tropical. And while that’s great, if you’re in the U.K., you can reach your island vacation with a mere 90-second plane ride.

Yes, that’s right. You really can step onto a plane and travel between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands of Scotland on a flight that takes 90 seconds—and that’s if it’s battling a headwind as most of the time, the journey takes under a minute. 

The flight, operated by Loganair, is recognized as the shortest scheduled flight in the world by the Guinness World Records, which explained that, including taxiing, the flight takes two minutes, and the total distance flown is “less than either of the runways at Heathrow Airport, London, U.K..” And while the airline’s famed captain, Stuart Linklater, announced his retirement from the route in 2013, he still holds the record for fastest flight flown on the route at a mere 53 seconds. During his time with the airline, Linklater flew the route an astonishing 12,000 times, though this racked up just 1.3 million miles. 

However, this is no average 747-style flight. The route uses a Britten-Norman Islander eight-seat aircraft, which means advanced reservations are a must as space is limited. 

You may be asking yourself, “Why not just build a bridge or use a ferry,” the flight is actually the most economical. As Travel and Tour World explained, the flight is the best option for travel between the islands because Scotland’s weather is unpredictable, with frequent winds and fog that can make navigation too dangerous for boats. Thus, the publication added, locals have come to depend on it for getting to and from work, medical needs, and general transport. 

Of course, it has also become a popular tourist attraction, giving visitors the chance to get a bird’s-eye view of the Scottish coastline and, naturally, some bragging rights.

As for what passengers can expect, you must arrive at least 20 minutes before your scheduled departure. You’re also allowed a healthy 15 kg. (about 33 pounds) of luggage. There’s no cabin service because there simply is not enough time. But what you can do for that minute or so is look out the window and enjoy the view. 

Tickets are available for £8 (about $10 USD) each way and can be booked directly on loganair.co.uk. Just remember to check the schedule often as this all depends on Scottish weather. 

This, however, isn’t the only ultra-short-haul flight in the world. Aviation Week Network rounded up the shortest regular international scheduled routes using fixed-wing aircraft types and found the flight between Anguilla and St. Maarten ranked as no. 1. The route is just 11 miles long. Coming in as a close second is the 15-mile route between Brazzaville, Congo, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, followed by the 19-mile trip between the Caribbean islands St. Maarten and St. Barts. Short and sweet, indeed.