World’s Shortest Commercial Flight is Just 47 Seconds Long

Aug 30, 2013 39 comments

The world’s shortest commercial flight takes place between the two Orkney Islands, Westray and Papa Westray, just north of Scotland, separated by a distance of only 1.7 miles. Operated by Loganair, the flight duration is officially two minutes, but under ideal wind condition can be completed in only 47 seconds. Tickets are priced at about $30 per passenger with no in-flight service. According to reports published in The Daily Mail, about 30 percent of the service's passengers are associated with the Orkney Islands Council's education service, while many others are health staff and patients of the Scottish National Health Service. The island of Papa Westray is home to just over 70 people, and 60 archaeological sites.

Loganair, which has flown the route since the 1960s, introduced a popular flight for tourists in 2011. The special flights fly a couple days each week in the summer for folks who just want the flight and then to get back to the Orkney Mainland rather than stay out on the islands.

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Flight taking off from Papa Westray. Photo credit

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Papa Westray Airport terminal. Photo credit

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Photo credit

You can watch the entire flight in the video below.

Comments

  1. Why they don't use a ferry if a bridge is too expensive to build ?

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    Replies
    1. its not deep enough. a bridge would be better long term. cheap since its low and short too. not enought people using it though.

      Delete
  2. Love it! Gotta do this!

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  3. What a weird little flight. I just have to try this someday! ;-p

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  4. Clockwork wind up plane. Environmentally friendly.

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  5. A big slingshot and a giant hamster ball

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  6. Imagine if one has to check in an hour before!

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  7. what if it was with a boeing or something :) 10 seconds?

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    Replies
    1. Death. Not NEARLY enough run way space and many other precuations.

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  8. not cost effective at all... use a paddle boat or a raft instead...

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  9. Row-row-row your boat... Indeed, the British are extremely lazy people. Wonder why to spend so much on fuel and then bullshit about ecological impacts and stuff.

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    Replies
    1. Says the keyboard martyr...

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    2. i'm guessing you're american then

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  10. Alternatively, the world's longest flight is from Dallas, Texas to Sydney, NSW. 15.5 hours straight through.

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    Replies
    1. I WANNA GO TOO! 15 hours of nothing to do but read, eat, sleep and watch movies..oh, and check out the flight attendants, and look below at islands and stuff...lol

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    2. I flew from Johannesburg to New York in 1991 (I think)--18 hours. We refueled in the islands but couldn't even leave our seats (mine was a center seat in coach, 3 rows from the restrooms). Later, when I flew from LA to Sydney, the 16hours didn't seem long.

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  11. The world' longest flight is 18 hours. Newark to Singapore.

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    Replies
    1. The longest flight in the world that is operational(as of September 23,2016) is Emirates flight 449 Auckland to Dubai 17 hr 15 min

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  12. The Newark to Singapore flight was canceled this year, Dallas to Singapore is the longest.

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    Replies
    1. Don't think there is a Dallas to Singapore direct flight...

      The longest one I can find is Dubai to Panama - 16:55 hours

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  13. Does anyone know what plane is being used for these journeys?

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  14. How about an hovercraft?

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    Replies
    1. Those waters look like they can get quite wild

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  15. Seems like a waste of fuel and another way to mess up the air.

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  16. $30? So expensive!!!

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    Replies
    1. I'll fly on Spirit from PDX to ORD for $36 no kidding

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    2. spending $30 to travel less than 2 miles is expensive. If that was a car you'd be using about 5 gallons of fuel per mile. Trust me no one would bother owning that car. It's not just about what it costs, it's about what you're getting for that cost. Also 1.7 miles in 2 min is 51 mph, so you're not even going very fast.

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    3. I would guess that the majority of the passengers are not paying their own fares, so cost is not an issue.

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  17. Dubai to Panama City is now considered the longest flight at about 17 hours.

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  18. Down here in Florida they solved the problem of crossing very shallow water, (Everglades), by use of air boats, flat bottom craft with a propeller on the stern which pushes them across the shallows and grass flats. I suggest they investigate such craft for this transit.

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