The COVID -19 pandemic has changed the airline business across the world. With international travel flight restrictions in place, airlines are focusing on their short-haul and national flights to earn revenue.
As a result, short-haul flying is making up the bulk of passenger traffic this year. Here is a look at the world’s shortest regular commercial flight. The trip between Westray and Papa Westray, which are two of Scotland’s Orkney Islands, measures at 2.7km (1.7 miles) and can be over within two minutes.
So which airline flies this route?
Loganair is a small Scottish carrier, and has been connecting these two small islands for over half a century, using two of its Britten-Norman BN-2 Islander propeller aircraft. For these quick trips only a single pilot is needed, so the other seat at the front remains unoccupied. In total, up to eight passengers can fit in the plane’s cabin.
Loganair advertises this journey to be just 90 seconds. However, on occasions, the flight has been as short as 47 seconds, depending on whether a tail wind is blowing or not. A one-way ticket for this service can be bought for as little as £7.50 ($10) and general economy fares are presently going for £17 ($22.50)
The flights are an essential service, connecting people, products and services for those living in the area. This flight is part of the Orkney Inter-Isles Air Service, which links the Orkney mainland with six outer islands. These islands are Eday, North Ronaldsay, Papa Westray, Sanday, Stronsay, and Westray. Altogether, locals, teachers, doctors, police officers, and business people make use of this network.
All the flights across the region are noticeably short compared to most commercial services. The short trip between the fields of Eday and Kirkwall only takes 10 minutes. The Orkney Islands consists of 70 individual islands, but only 20 of them are actually inhabited by people.
Loganair CEO Jonathan Hinkles said, “The Orkney Inter-Isles Service is a jewel in our network and famous across the world. However, despite its fame, it’s also an essential life-line service for the people of Orkney, connecting the individual islands via a convenient air-link.”
This route is used by the people of the Orkney Islands going about their daily routines, such as teachers, the local police officer, the banker and children going to school. However it is also a keen route for tourists and aviation enthusiasts. These island-hopping services performed by Loganair are important to the local population of these northern islands.
The future
Loganair has been planning ahead and looking to keep its operations up-to-date across these sparsely-populated islands. By next year, the airline wants to introduce electric planes to these operations. These types of aircraft would suit these flights considerably as they would perform well on such short distances. Additionally, many locals would welcome this modernized update.
However, there could soon be less need for regular air services between the Orkney Islands. Last decade, consultations began to construct fixed connections between seven of the islands. If plans go ahead, Westray and Papa Westray would be connected by a land bridge. Ferries also transport cars between the islands 13 times a day in each direction. The total time for each trip takes approximately 25 minutes. So, the addition of sturdy bridges could offer a well-rounded solution for those trying to get around the isles. Loganair has a rich history of operations across Scotland, especially in the Orkney Islands.
Other short-haul journeys
- The world’s shortest international commercial flight, which is a 10-minute journey from St. Maarten to Anguilla. Anguilla Air Services performs this 11.87 mi (19.11 km) flight between the two Caribbean islands of Princess Juliana International Airport and Clayton J. Lloyd International Airport.
- Papua, Indonesia, often sees a 1.3-mile flight from Kegata to Apowo using a Pilatus PC-6 Turbo Porter.
- Canada’s Air Creebec’s service between Fort Albany and Kashechewan is the shortest Dash 8 operation.
Loganair offers other useful services to other more popular airports in Scotland, such as the hubs of Glasgow and Edinburgh. The global health crisis has forced several airlines, including Loganair to rethink its routes.
Services linking these remote isles still look to remain in action in some capacity for the near future.
