A Loganair flight between two Orkney Islands holds the record as the shortest scheduled passenger service in the world, and it can be over in less than a minute. The route connects Westray and Papa Westray, just 1.7 miles apart in northern Scotland. That's roughly the same length as the runway at Edinburgh Airport. The journey is officially timetabled for 90 seconds but can be as quick as 53 seconds when conditions are right.

Operated by Scottish airline Loganair since 1967, the service is part of a public network linking some of the most remote parts of Orkney with the main hub at Kirkwall. It is subsidised to ensure locals can travel for school, medical appointments and other essential trips.

Most of the passengers are islanders, including children heading to school and health workers visiting Papa Westray's small population of around 85.

But the route has become a bucket-list experience for aviation fans and tourists from around the world.

The aircraft used is a Britten-Norman Islander, a small twin-engine plane with space for eight passengers and a single pilot.

There is no in-flight service or seat selection and passengers are told where to sit to balance the weight.

Hand luggage is stored in the rear compartment, and there is no toilet on board.

A former pilot, Stuart Linklater, flew the route more than 12,000 times before retiring in 2013. He still holds the record for the fastest crossing at 53 seconds.

Flights are operated as part of the Kirkwall inter-isles loop, with exact timings varying by day and season.

A round-trip sightseeing ticket from Kirkwall, which includes both the Westray-Papa Westray leg and the return, costs around £50 but is only sold to tourists on the day if there are spare seats.

One-way fares between the two islands start from around £16.

But the route has faced questions about its long-term future. In 2014, Orkney Islands Council explored possible fixed links such as bridges or tunnels to connect several islands, including Westray and Papa Westray.

While those plans stalled, a £20 million fund for improving inter-island transport was announced in the 2024/2025 budget, which could include ferries, flights or fixed links (bridges/tunnels).

For now, the world's shortest flight continues to operate much as it did nearly 60 years ago, carrying locals, schoolchildren and visitors over a short stretch of water in the time it takes to boil a kettle.