Why the world's shortest flight - just 53 seconds long - still operates today
- The world’s shortest flight lasts for just 53 seconds
- It connects two of the Orkney Islands in Scotland, UK
- There’s no cheaper or better alternative to this short flight
Published on Apr 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall
Last updated on Apr 25, 2025 at 5:20 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Henry Kelsall
The world’s shortest flight lasts less than a minute, and remarkably, it is still in service in 2025.
It takes place in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, UK, between the islands of Westray and Papa Westray.
While a trip that lasts less than a minute might seem frivolous, it’s a vital link between the two islands, and one they could not do without.
The flights run every day, providing a connection for the residents and tourists alike, and let’s face it, it’s also pretty cool.
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The total flight time is just 90 seconds
From taxiing out for take-off to taxiing in for landing, the entire trip lasts just 90 seconds.
Of those 90 seconds, only 53 of them are actually spent in the air, the rest are all on the ground.
The flight itself is a distance of just 1.7 miles.
A Britten-Norman BN2B-26 Islander is the aircraft used to make the journey.
In total, it can carry 10 passengers, whereas the entire population of Papa Westray is 90 people.
The journey is mainly used by teachers and students who are going to study archeological sites.
Health professionals also use the service should they need to attend to patients on another island.
Why the short journey is still needed in 2025
The obvious question for many is why the flight itself is still operating in 2025.
Sadly, for the residents, there is no better, cheaper, or simpler way to get from one island to the other.
A ferry does make the same journey, but this takes 25 minutes, which is far longer than the flight.
No bridges connect the two islands either, so you can’t walk or drive between the two.
Of course, with so few residents, it wouldn’t make financial sense to build a bridge between the two islands.
Believe it or not, a pilot from one of the islands said in a YouTube video that despite flying the route some 5,000 times, he’s only accumulated around 50 hours in the air.
And while it might be so short it’s almost comical, it appears this flight is one of the most important in the world.
Unless a bridge is somehow built, it seems like the world’s shortest plane journey will continue for years to come.
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Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.
