The Guinness Book of Records’ 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 in an eight-seater Britten Norman Islander aircraft, duration is officially two minutes, but under ideal wind condition can be completed in only 47 seconds.
1. This world’s shortest flight, a tiny hop between two remote British islands, celebrated Monday taking its millionth passenger on the route.
2. The 2.7km (1.7-mile) flight between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney islands, off mainland Scotland’s northeast coast, holds the Guinness World Record as the shortest scheduled service.
3. The Royal Bank of Scotland flying banker has flown more than 10,000 trips on the service, visiting island communities and tending to their banking requirements.
4. “The route is a jewel in our network and known across the world,” said Loganair’s managing director Jonathan Hinkles.
5. “However, despite its fame, it’s an essential lifeline service for the people of Orkney, connecting the individual islands via a convenient air link.
6. “It’s used by teachers, doctors, policemen and school pupils, helping them to go about their daily routines with ease and simplicity.”
7. Tickets are priced at about $30 per passenger with no in-flight service. According to reports published in the guardian, 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.
8. 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.