Air travel usually conjures images of long lines, security checks and hours on a plane. But not all flights involve a passport, an in-flight meal or even enough time to read a magazine. Hidden away in the remote corners of Northern Scotland is a flight that defies traditional perceptions of air travel. It is a scheduled commercial flight operated by Loganair that connects two tiny islands: the Orkney archipelago’s Westray and Papa Westray. The route covers only 1.7 miles, and the flight time is only 57 seconds, sometimes even shorter when the wind is agreeable. It’s not a gimmick or a novelty ride, but a useful connecting flight linking two small islands.
This brief flight is no quirky news headline. It’s an intriguing example of geography, local necessity and utilitarian transport converging in a peculiar but perfectly useful format. Let us delve into why this flight is 57 seconds long, who flies it and how it remains such an important lifeline in this part of Scotland.
The Route: Westray to Papa Westray
The Orkney Islands are comprised of around 70 islands, but just 20 are populated. Among them are Westray and Papa Westray, two islands that are divided by a narrow patch of sea. Although only 2.7 km (1.7 miles) apart, the water in between can be turbulent, particularly during winter. Ferries do run, but weather conditions may render them unreliable or lengthy.
Now comes Loganair. Since 1967, the Scottish regional airline has offered a scheduled service between the two islands. The small plane used, usually the Britten-Norman Islander, is just about ideal for the task. With an eight-passenger capacity, the aircraft is more like a sky carpool than a standard airline ride.
The average flight time is around 80 seconds, but under favourable wind conditions, the flight takes only 57 seconds, making it the world’s shortest commercial flight by distance and time.
A Lifeline, Not a Luxury
It could be tempting to consider this flight a novelty, an experience for flyers or visitors wanting to tick a box. But for the people of Papa Westray (informally Papay), it is just part of the daily routine.
Papa Westray has a population of about 100. While the island is peaceful and picturesque, the fact that it is isolated from the rest of the world means there is limited access to the services people need, such as hospitals, schools and shops. Most of its residents use the flight to go to Westray or Kirkwall (Orkney’s biggest town) for medical care, school or simply to get supplies.
Loganair’s island-hopping flights operate very much like a rural bus network. Concession cards are commonly held by locals, and the Orkney Islands Council and Scottish Government subsidise fares. This keeps fares low and means even the most isolated communities are kept in touch.
The Aircraft: Designed for the Job
The Britten-Norman Islander is a twin-engine light plane designed in Britain during the 1960s. It’s not high-tech, but it’s tough, dependable and particularly well-suited to short take-off and landing, just the thing for the Orkney Islands, where runways are short and the weather can be changeable quickly.
It’s a no-frills experience: there’s no in-flight entertainment, no cabin crew and no trolley service. But for most passengers, that’s hardly an issue. You’re up, over the water and back on the ground before there’s time to look out both sides of the aircraft.
Why Not a Bridge or Ferry?
At first sight, it may look ridiculous to use a plane to travel such a short distance. Wouldn’t a bridge or an increased ferry rate be cheaper in the long term?
Not exactly. Building a bridge from Westray to Papa Westray would be far too costly, considering the difficult marine environment and small population. Ferries, although less expensive, are also more subject to delay or cancellation by rough seas, particularly during the cold winter months. For older passengers, school-age children or anyone with serious medical issues, the uncertainty of ferry schedules can be hazardous.
That’s where the speed and reliability of air travel provide an easier and more reliable alternative. The flight means that residents are not isolated from services and possibilities on the larger islands or the Scottish mainland.
A Tourist Curiosity Too
Though the flight is mainly for local residents, it also draws aviation enthusiasts and inquisitive travellers. Some tourists come specifically to take the world’s shortest flight and receive a certificate to mark the occasion. Some people include a trip to Papa Westray’s ancient monuments, like the Knap of Howar, which is 5,000 years old and the oldest stone house still standing in northern Europe. Tourism gives a modest but appreciated economic injection to the island, and the novelty of the flight is well worth the extra effort.
Small Flight, Big Impact
The 57-second hop from Westray to Papa Westray might look like a strange aside to the history of commercial flying, but it represents something more substantial. It’s a reminder that transportation is not always about speed or magnitude. Sometimes, it’s just about connection and dependability and helping communities that would otherwise be cut off.
