What is the world's shortest flight time?
Worlds Shortest Flight Time: How Long Is It?
Okay, so I was reading about the shortest flight, you know, the one that's like, ridiculously short. It's between these two islands, Westray and Papa Westray, way up in Scotland's Orkneys.
It's a real thing, scheduled and everything. Can you imagine, a flight that's only, like, two minutes long.
That's barely enough time to even get settled, right. The distance is practically nothing, like 2.7 kilometers, which is what, under two miles.
So, yeah, two minutes is the record holder. It's pretty wild to think about.
What is the shortest international flight in the world?
Okay so get this, the absolute shortest international flight is between Brazzaville and Kinshasa. These are the capitals of two different countries, the Republic of Congo and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Literally right next to each other.
The distance is only 24km, which is about 15 miles. It's insane. You can literally see the other city across the Congo River. My buddy went there on a work trip a few years ago, said it was the weirdest flight of his life, you go up and then you immediately come down.
The whole thing is like 30 minutes gate-to-gate, but the actual time in the air is barely 10 minutes. A total joke. It's faster than my drive to my parents house. It's so short, so short.
- The Route: From Brazzaville Maya-Maya Airport (BZV) to N'djili Airport (FIH) in Kinshasa.
- Why Fly? Taking the ferry across the river is an option but it can be a huge pain. There's a lot of red tape and it takes forever. Flying is just way more straightforward and predictable, even with all the airport hassle. You just get it done.
- Airlines: You can usually find flights on carriers like ASKY Airlines and Royal Air Maroc. The schedules can be kinda random sometimes, you have to check.
- Cost: Dont expect it to be cheap just because it's short. I've seen tickets for over $150. You're paying for the convenience of avoiding the ferry and the border crossing on the ground.
- The Record: This is specifically the shortest international commercial flight. The shortest flight overall is a domestic one in Scotland between Westray and Papa Westray. That one is like, 90 seconds. Its completly different.
How much is the worlds shortest flight?
Hey, so you know that whole thing about the world's shortest flight? I was just thinking about it. It's actually a real thing, like, for real. This route has been going on forever, right since 1967, operating every single day, no kidding.
And the cost? It's like, so cheap. Just $22! That's what, £17 over there. I almost booked it myself last year, when I was looking at flights for my trip to Scotland. Was gonna do it just for the story, but then plans changed.
My buddy Mark actually did it last year. He told me it's just this super quick hop, you barely get settled. People do it all the time, for like, connecting. It's a proper flight, like, with an actual plane, and stuff. Really a thing.
Okay, so here's the deets, all the specifics about that flight, ya know. It’s wild because it’s not just a stunt. People actually depend on it. This isn't some tourist trap, even though it's super famous.
- Route: The flight goes between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands, Scotland. It’s part of a larger inter-island service.
- Airline: Operated by Loganair. They use a small, twin-engine aircraft, a Britten-Norman Islander usually. It’s not a huge jet, obviously.
- Distance: The flight covers just 1.7 miles (2.7 km). You can practically see the other airport from where you take off. It's so short.
- Flight Duration: The shortest recorded flight time is an unbelievable 53 seconds. Average time is around 2 minutes. Blink and you miss it, seriously.
- Purpose: Primarily for locals, school children, and postal workers. It's vital for connecting these small island communities. My auntie actually lived up there years ago, she told me how important these tiny flights were.
- Historical Significance: It’s been running since 1967, making it the world’s longest continuously operating shortest flight. That's a fun fact right there.
- Cost: As I said, $22 (£17). That’s for a one-way ticket. You can also get return if you want, same price each way.
- Airport Codes: Westray is WRY and Papa Westray is PPW. Little tiny airports, just sheds really.
- Capacity: The planes typically carry about 8 passengers. Super intimate flying experience, right?
- Is there a modern part of Hanoi?
- What happens if I use my debit card in another country?
- Which country gives the fastest work visa?
- What is the TGV train short for?
- Is a day trip to Ninh Binh enough?
- Can I eat my own food on a train?
- Does Canadian Rail have sleeper cars?
- Where is the best place to sit on a bus for motion sickness?
- How safe is Vietnam at night?
- Why is the air so bad in Hanoi?
Feedback on answer:
Thank you for your feedback! Your input is very important in helping us improve answers in the future.