World’s Shortest Commercial Flight Soars Runway to Runway in Two Minutes or Less

Runway to runway in two minutes or less, Scottish domestic carrier Loganair offers the world’s shortest commercial flight.

A chain of land off the northern tip of Scotland, the Orkney Islands are renowned for their remote location in the British Isles. But in the airline industry, two of the islands within the archipelago are perhaps best known for being connected by the world’s shortest commercial flight.

For nearly 50 years, Scottish domestic airline Loganair has operated a service that spans the 1.7 mile distance between the airports on the neighboring islands of Westray and Papa Westray. While there is a 20-minute ferry connection between the two islands, the flight time between Westray Airport (WRY) and Papa Westray Airport (PPW) averages — including runway taxi time — around two minutes. In good weather, the flight can be completed in as little as 47 seconds.

According to the airline’s website, one-way fares cost around $30, with a fleet of Britten-Norman BN2 Islanders carrying up to eight passengers on each inter-island run. Timetables are seasonal and can be affected by the region’s harsh climate and unpredictable weather.

A franchise partner with British low-cost carrier FlyBe, Loganair also counts two de Havilland Twin Otters as well as 14 Saab turboprops among its fleet.

At only four miles long and one mile wide, boasting a population of just 90, the island of Papa Westray is tiny in all respects. But with over 60 archaeological sites dating back 5,500 years, the cultural heritage of the 2,270 acre island is a major attraction and according to the carrier, this short flight is very popular with day-trippers.

[Photo: iStock]