If you’re a nervous flyer then this journey might be the one for you, as it takes just under a minute between take off and landing.

There are few things worse when you’re traveling than a bad flight, as experiencing turbulence in an uncomfortable seat with minimal leg room is not how anyone wants to start or end their dream holiday.

Horror stories surrounding the world’s longest flights are enough to send shivers down your spine – but what if there was a faster way to get from point A to B?

While Elon Musk has promised flights across the world that take under an hour through the power of SpaceX, the world’s fastest airplane journey has actually been operating since 1967, and takes a mere 53 seconds in total.

If you happen to be traveling between the Scottish Orkney Islands of Westray and Papa Westray then you’re in luck, as this 2.7km journey is indeed the shortest commercial flight you can take right now.

Operating on Loganair’s Britten-Norman BN2B-26 Islander aircraft, this journey is fit for just 10 passengers, although you can’t imagine that the demand exceeds the supply most days.

It remains an essential journey for anyone who currently lives on Papa Westray, which has a population of around 90 people and pales in comparison to the 600 that live on Westray.

Most passengers on the flight are those coming from Westray to Papa Westray in order to study its archaeological sites, but there are also frequent trips from health professionals and other experts to tend to the needs of the P.W. residents.

You can catch flights both ways every single weekday, but on Saturday you can only travel from Westray with the reverse being the case on Sunday, so you’d better plan out your days just in case you get stuck!

What adds to the ridiculousness is that the entire distance is only around 150m longer than the main runway at Edinburgh Airport, so passengers there will spend more time getting off the ground than you’d spend in the air.

Any sensible person does, of course, wonder what the other transport options are considering the ridiculousness of such a short flight, and while there have been plans for fixed links, nothing has officially commenced since they were introduced in 2014.

Instead, you can opt for a 25 minute ferry, which feels extraordinarily long when placed next to the 53 second flight – although if you still have to get to the airport two hours before it starts to lose it’s charm.

It’s definitely something to consider putting on your bucket list if you’re a plane enthusiast, though you might end up being disappointed as the ride is over almost as soon as it has begun. Talk about an anticlimax.

A 53 second flight seems totally pointless, right? But for the citizens of the Scottish Orkney Islands of Westray and Papa Westray, there’s not much choice.

Operating since 1967 by Loganair, the flight crosses a strip of water separating the Scottish islands and takes a total of 90 seconds, only 53 of which are spent in the air.

The Britten-Norman BN2B-26 Islander aircraft only carries 10 passengers and is essential for the 90 people (yes, 90!) who live on Papa Westray.

Flights run daily on this unusual route, with the total distance being just 2.7km (1.7 miles).

It’s mainly used by teachers and students heading to study archaeological sites, but health professionals also use the route to tend to residents.

You might be wondering why this plane ride is still in operation. Surely there’s a better and simpler way to get from point A to B than by air?

Unfortunately, that’s where you’d be wrong.

While yes, the distance is pretty short, there is only one other option for residents of Papa Westray wanting to travel to the slightly larger island of Westray, the ferry, which takes roughly 25 minutes.

Compare that to the speedy Loganair flight and it’s a no brainer for residents in a rush.

‘But why can you not drive if the distance is so short?’ I hear you cry.

Well, that would be because there are no bridges connecting the islands, and quite simply, the population of Papa Westray is too small for the construction of a bridge to make financial sense at the moment.

In a video posted to YouTube by Great Big Story, the pilot of Westray’s tiny flight noted that he’d flown this route around 5,000 times but has only racked up a total of about 50 hours of flight time.

Sadly not every flight can run as smoothly and quickly as this one.

The world’s longest passenger flight for example takes you from New York’s JFK to Singapore Changi Airport in a whopping 18 hours and 50 minutes.

Loganair’s super short flight also manages to steer clear of any in-flight entertainment related issues much like the flight that recently played an X-rated film that was impossible to turn off for every single passenger…

There have been talks of building a bridge between Westray and Papa Westray in the past, however as of 2024 none of these have begun and it seems unlikely that they will any time soon.

Forget getting to the airport on time, sorting transfers, or making sure you don’t forget your toothbrush.

Finding a low-cost airline ticket can be the most stressful part of booking a holiday.

We’ve all been there when we’ve hopped on Skyscanner to find that bargain getaway, only to turn our backs and find the ticket has now doubled in price.

2024’s airline prices are apparently down 6% year-over-year, while plane tickets have reportedly plummeted by a tasty 15% when compared to a decade ago.

Still, we’re not sure we’d be stumping up for some of the ludicrous price tags that airlines are charging for first class unless we knew we were getting our money’s worth.

When celebrating something like a honeymoon or big birthday, why not kick back and make that long-haul flight fly by with a glass of bubbly in your hand? However, we don’t imagine an ‘upgrade’ is really necessary on the world’s shortest flight.

Taking just 90 seconds from takeoff to landing, the world’s shortest flight is actually only up in the air for 53 seconds.

The total distance traveled is 2.7 km (1.7 miles), serving as a quick hop between the Scottish Orkney Islands of Westray and Papa Westray.

The route has been operating continuously since 1967, and even though prices were a little different to back then, you might be shocked to learn it’ll cost $22 (£17) to take the world’s shortest flight.

Loganair operates the route, and before you start questioning why such a short flight still exists, it’s there to mainly serve teachers and students who are visiting Papa Westray’s archaeological sites, as well as healthcare professionals who care for the island’s population of just 90 residents.

The Loganair site confirms it costs £17 for a one-way ticket. If you want a return, it’s actually cheaper. Loganair offers a ‘Excursion’ ticket that requires a one-night minimum stay but comes in at just $9.40 (£7.25) each way.

At least you’re allowed to take 15 kg of luggage with you.

There had been plans to replace the world’s shortest flight with a permanent bridge, but after a decade of talks, work is yet to begin.

Despite its minuscule distance, pilot Stuart Linklater flew route more than 12,000 times before he retired in 2013.

It was also Linklater who was responsible for setting the record for the 53-second flight between the islands.

Ironically, Loganair also operates the world’s second shortest flight.

The airline boasts the quick jump from the Scottish island of Stronsay and Sanday that only takes an average of four minutes.

Ryukyu Air’s Minami-Daito to Kita-Daito wasn’t far behind (before it was discontinued in 2024) and actually had a flight time that averaged just three minutes. Still, it was technically a longer flight because it was 14.5 km (8 miles) when compared to Stronsay to Sanday’s 11.3 km (7 miles).

For those who regularly take the Loganair routes, it seems like quite a steep price. If only you had American Airlines’ unlimited AAirpass to fly first class for life. Well, it wasn’t quite for life if you’re Steven Rothstein.

If you’re not a nervous flyer then you might spend the short period when an airplane is taking off to have a glance around the flight, and you might just have noticed that the plane’s flight attendants seemingly always end up sitting on their hands during this time.

The first time you noticed it you might have assumed it was simply a thing for comfort, and the second time a strange coincidence, yet the more you notice it you begin to wonder what exactly is the reason behind this bizarre protocol?

Thankfully one experienced flight attendant has taken to social media to demystify the phenomenon, explaining in great detail why she and all other flight attendants have to sit on their hands as the plane takes to the air.

As reported by the Daily Mail, this information was shared by Henny Lim (@_hennylim_), a flight attendant for Phillippines airline Cebu Pacific, on her TikTok and YouTube accounts.

Lim has shared a number of short travel related guides for her followers, but this conundrum has proven to be one of the most popular.

She reveals that it’s all part of what’s called the ‘bracing position’, which is designed to both ensure the safety of all flight attendants in the event of turbulence or a crash and also to provide an environment for heightened focus just before the plane takes off.

“This position involves fastening the seatbelt securely, sitting upright, sitting on your hands with palms up and thumbs tucked,” Henny illustrates, noting that you also have to have your arms loose and feet flat on the floor to complete the bracing position.

Continuing on, she reveals that “the aim is to keep the body in a rigid pose so that if there was any impact from an unplanned emergency, the body is damaged less.”

While it might look a bit strange to you from the comfort of your seat, it’s actually one of the most important parts of the flight when it comes to securing your own safety.

Lim also adds that “during this time, [the flight attendants] will also be going through the ‘silent review’, which prepares them for an emergency situation [during] every take-off and landing.

“This includes being aware of emergency equipment in the location, door operation, commands given and any visual clues outside the airport,” so it’s important that these flight attendants remain as focused as possible.

One comment underneath Henny’s video wonders why this practice isn’t extended towards all passengers throughout the plane, and while it’s not entirely clear, it could be something to do with the smaller seats and position of the flight attendants on either side of the plane.

It also likely helps if your hands are feeling a bit cold, but thankfully that’s not the only reason why your flight attendants are doing it!