The shortest flight in the world operates every day for just 53 seconds
Published on Jan 01, 2026 at 7:22 PM (UTC+4)
by Molly Davidson
Last updated on Dec 31, 2025 at 4:02 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Kate Bain
There’s a passenger flight in the UK that barely lasts a minute.
By the time you’ve clicked your seatbelt into place, the plane is already lining up to land.
It runs every day and plays a real role in island life.
And it’s officially the shortest scheduled flight in the world.
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The world’s shortest flight lasts just 53 seconds
The route runs between Westray and Papa Westray, two tiny islands in Scotland’s Orkney archipelago separated by just 1.7 miles.
That’s shorter than some airport runways, which explains why the flight itself often clocks in at under a minute.
The service is operated by Loganair, using a small Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander built specifically for short, rugged routes.
Officially, the flight is scheduled for 90 seconds.
In practice, it usually takes around 47 seconds.
With a strong tailwind, the journey has been completed in just 53 seconds from takeoff to landing, earning it the title of the world’s shortest scheduled commercial passenger flight.
But this isn’t some novelty route dreamed up for record books.
It’s been running continuously since 1967, acting as a vital link for islanders.
Locals rely on it for work, school, medical appointments, and day-to-day life when the weather turns rough.
There’s no cabin service, no cruising altitude, and no chance to settle in.
Just wheels up, wheels down, and you’re there.
So why not just build a bridge?
The obvious question is why two islands so close together don’t just connect with a bridge.
The answer is money, weather, and scale.
Building and maintaining a bridge in this part of Scotland would cost millions of dollars, an eye-watering figure for a combined population of roughly 600 people.
Add in harsh winds, rough seas, and complex marine conditions, and the price only climbs.
Ferries do operate, but Orkney weather can turn a short crossing into a slow, unreliable one, or cancel it altogether.
A tiny plane, flying for less than a minute, ends up being the fastest, safest, and most practical solution.
It may be the shortest flight in the world, but for the people who use it, it’s also the smartest.
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Molly Davidson is a Junior Content Writer at Supercar Blondie. Based in Melbourne, she holds a double Bachelor’s degree in Arts/Law from Swinburne University and a Master’s of Writing and Publishing from RMIT. Molly has contributed to a range of magazines and journals, developing a strong interest in lifestyle and car news content. When she’s not writing, she’s spending quality time with her rescue English staffy, Boof.
