Top 10 Shortest Scheduled Flights Worldwide

A significant number of flights today are surprisingly short, especially when factoring in the cumbersome airport security environment. For example, the flight from Houston to Dallas, or Washington, D.C. to New York often involves longer taxiing and take-off times than the actual flight duration.

The flights detailed here represent the world’s shortest scheduled flights as of October 2016, all of which are shorter than nearly all scheduled domestic flights in the U.S. Furthermore, many of these routes are operational due to impracticalities or impossibilities of land transport. While the average traveler may not encounter these flights frequently, the world is full of surprises, sometimes necessitating such unique journeys.

Westray to Papa Westray, Scotland (Two Minutes or Less)

The flight operated by Loganair between Westray (WRY) and Papa Westray (PPW) airports in Scotland’s Orkney Islands is officially scheduled at just two minutes. Remarkably, it has even been completed in under one minute—specifically, 47 seconds.

Loganair has embraced the attention garnered by this flight, marketing it as a unique experience for tourists wishing to check a unique item off their travel bucket list. Travelers can enjoy this roundtrip for as low as £39 while exploring the lovely Orkney Islands.

Karpathos to Kasos, Greece (Five Minutes)

Traveling in Greece often involves taking relaxing ferry rides, where one can enjoy the stunning sea views and picturesque white houses dotting the islands. However, Olympic Air offers a five-minute flight between Karpathos (AOK) and Kasos (KSJ), which seems almost too brief, especially in such a breathtaking region.

St. Kitts to Nevis (Five Minutes)

LIAT operates a brief five-minute flight between St. Kitts and Nevis, two islands in the Caribbean nation known for its beautiful landscapes. This 17.4-mile journey from SKB to NEV is certainly notable, reinforcing the unique relationship of these islands.

St. Gallen, Switzerland to Friedrichshafen, Germany (Eight Minutes)

Austrian airline People’s Viennaline plans to initiate the world’s shortest international flight in November 2016, taking a mere eight minutes from St. Gallen, Switzerland (ACH) to Friedrichshafen, Germany (FDH), covering a distance of just 13 miles. This flight offers a significant time-saving alternative to a trip that would otherwise require about an hour’s drive, complicated by geographic barriers.

Toronto to Niagara Falls (12 Minutes)

For those in North America, Greater Toronto Airways offers a convenient flight various times daily from Toronto to Niagara Falls Airport (YCM). The price to bypass the 90-minute drive is currently set at $159 Canadian dollars, although competition is anticipated which may lead to lower prices in the future.

Travelers should note that this service departs from Toronto’s Billy Bishop city airport (YTZ) rather than Toronto Pearson (YYZ), the main international airport, which can be crucial for those arriving in the city for the first time.

Caye Chapel to Caye Caulker, Belize (15 Minutes)

Belize is renowned for its charming islands, attracting travelers from around the globe. The flight operated by Maya Island Air between Caye Chapel (CYC) and Caye Caulker (CUK) lasts roughly 15 minutes. This may seem rather lengthy given that the direct distance between these two destinations is only 2.4 miles.

Taitung to Green Island, Taiwan (15 Minutes)

Despite Taiwan’s reputation for development, its aviation sector has faced scrutiny, especially following the highly publicized TransAsia crash in 2015. Nevertheless, Daily Air provides a valuable flight from Taitung (TTT) to the stunning Green Island (GNI), ultimately saving around an hour compared to the 23-mile boat ride, making it a worthwhile option for day-trippers.

Kinshasa, DRC to Brazzaville, Congo (17 minutes)

Operating between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Republic of Congo, Ethiopian Airlines offers a noteworthy 17-minute flight from Kinshasa (FIH) to Brazzaville (BZV). This duration, although longer than others on this list, is notable as it is the only jet service regularly traversed by a jet aircraft, specifically the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, marking Ethiopian Airlines as the first African operator of this model.

Though the two cities are approximately 80 miles apart, travel between Kinshasa and Brazzaville can be quite extensive, reaching up to three hours when considering traffic, border customs, and various police inspections.