Thirty minutes might be your guess for the duration of the world’s shortest flight – or perhaps just five or 10.But you’d be miles off even with these brief estimations. The world’s shortest flight actually lasts just 74 seconds – and takes place in the UK, flying from Papa Westray to Westray in Orkney, Scotland.And while not quite reaching the extraordinary brevity of this tiny jaunt, there are plenty of journeys through the skies that are so quick you’ve barely finished taking off before preparing for landing again.Indeed, as of July 2, 2026, Ethiopian Airlines has started running services between France and Switzerland – which includes a flight from Geneva to Lyon, which at the grand total of 45 minutes, is the shortest Airbus A350-900 operation in Europe.Here, the Daily Mail has compiled some of the world’s shortest flights, from speedy Scottish journeys to Greek voyages and a Belize trip…Papa Westray to Westray, Orkney, Scotland Lasting just over a minute, this Scottish flight is the world’s shortest journeyThe world’s shortest commercial flight takes just one minute and 14 seconds, and covers a distance of just 1.7 miles (2.7 kilometres).Travel vlogger Noel Philips, 41, filmed his trip on board as he flew between the islands of Papa Westray and Westray in the Scottish archipelago of Orkney.The flight only costs £17, but its cost-per-mile ratio applied to a flight from London to Dubai would produce a £34,000 fare.Footage shows Noel, from Mansfield, Derbyshire, boarding the Britten-Norman Islander plane in Papa Westray. Flying briefly over the channel of water between the isles, Noel spins the camera around to show the interior of the plane while on board.’You barely get airborne from the runway before the aircraft is turning onto its final approach into the destination,’ he says in the clip.The flight can carry up to eight passengers and operates twice a day with Loganair, with the record journey time of just 53 seconds.Some say the flight’s distance makes it environmentally problematic, but the alternative is a 20-minute boat ride through choppy waters.Caye Caulker to Caye Chapel, Belize Caye Caulker is an island off the coast from the mainland in Belize – and is the starting point for one of the world’s shortest flightsBelize, a popular holiday spot due to its lush beaches and tropical Caribbean climate, hosts another one of the world’s shortest flight times.If you were to catch a flight from the tiny island of Caye Caulker and head to nearby Caye Chapel, you’d be able to arrive at your destination in just two minutes. The four-kilometre route allows passengers to enjoy the best of both islands, Point Hacks reported. Caye Caulker, 20 miles off the coast of Belize City, is a small Caribbean island known for its wildlife, forest and sandy beach.Meanwhile, Caye Chapel made headlines as it was once owned by Belize’s first African millionaire.Brazzaville, Congo to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo You can head from Brazzaville, pictured, to Kinshasa in just 15 minutes ASKY airline is one carrier that flies this ultra-short routeHeading from the capital of the Congo to the capital of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, it’s hardly surprising how short the flight is, given the proximity of the two cities.In just 15 minutes, you could make the 24km journey, according to Aviation A2Z. Airlines such as ASKY run the trip.With seven weekly flights, it’s a speedy and convenient journey, although despite the short airborne time, 50 minutes are scheduled for the entire journey.You can also forgo the flight altogether and travel by boat across the River Congo.But beware, the FCDO advises against all travel to parts of Congo.The website states: ‘Check the UK Air Safety List when considering which airlines to fly with. The list is maintained by the Department for Transport, based on advice from the UK Civil Aviation Authority.’Karpathos to Kasos, Greece Karpathos, a beautiful Greek Island, is located geographically close to Kasos Aegean Airlines is one of the Greek carriers that runs this journey between the twoThe distance between Karpathos and Kasos Island in Greece is just 19.3km – and the flight between them lasts roughly five minutes.To save passengers the ferry journeys, the flightpaths are serviced by small Greek airlines.And with such a short journey time comes an extremely purse-friendly price, too.In the off season, in November, flights can start from just £7 each way with Aegean and Olympic.Connemara to Inis Mor, Ireland The Irish rural landscape of Connemara is home to another of the world’s shortest airline journeys Aer Arann Islands airline runs the speedy flight between the destinationsIn just 10 minutes, you can get from Ireland’s Connemara in Inverin, to Inis Mor on Galway Bay.While separated by the North Atlantic Ocean, the two destinations are only 16km apart, and it’s easy to get between them.Opt for the flight with Aer Arann Islands for as little as €35 (£30) – or, instead, you can take the ferry.Connemara is known for its vibrant green colours and Kylemore Abbey, a stately pile beside a lake that’s now home to an order of Benedictine nuns.Inis Mor, meanwhile, is one of a group of three islands in Galway Bay, along with Inis Meain Island (Middle Island) and Inis Oirr Island (East Island), ‘famed for their wild landscapes, distinctive knitted jumpers [Aran jumpers] and pretty cottages’, the Irish tourist board explains.St Martin to St Barthelemy St Barthelemy is one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful – and high–end – destinationsTravelling from the French part of St Martin to St Barthelemy, you’re not only likely to get some show-stopping views. You’re also set to experience one of the shortest journeys of all time: a 15-minute hop.With approximately five daily flights, it’s never been easier to island hop in this part of the Caribbean. Carriers that run the journey include charter flights and Winair.Saba to St Maarten Rounding out the list is the trip from Saba to St Maarten, pictured, in the Caribbean Winair is a small carrier that operates these quick Caribbean flightsIn just 20 minutes, you can make the journey from Saba Island, a Dutch territory in the Caribbean, to St Maarten.Plus, the Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport in Saba is known for featuring the world’s shortest commercial runway.The distance between the destinations is 45km, and around 55 flights operate each week – Winair being a key carrier.