15 Shortest Flights in the World
15.
“Toronto to Niagara Falls”- From the sparkling Canadian city of Toronto to the natural wonder
that is Niagara falls is 90 miles, which by air takes only 12 minutes.
Sure you can drive along the coast of Lake Ontario to get there but the near 3 hours
it usually takes to go only 90 miles can be taxing.
The road from Toronto to Niagara is notorious for being gridlocked or perpetually under
construction.
Because of this, Greater Toronto Airways began offering daily flights in eight-seater planes
in September of 2016.
It is pricier than the hour and a half train ride but it’s much quicker and you don’t
need to bring a passport.
14.
“Kinshasa to Brazzaville”- If you plan on traveling between Kinshasa, Republic of
Congo and Brazzaville, Democratic Republic of the Congo you are sure to face strict border
restrictions, especially if you are traveling by car.
These two towns are cultural brothers but have been at odds with each other since colonial
times and are separated by the raging Congo River.
Most of the locals take ferries or speedboats across but this can be extremely dangerous
for tourists, so the best way to travel is by air.
The flight takes about 17 minutes to go the 80 miles between the airports and though it’s
far more expensive you can avoid being hassled by the border patrols or thieves.
What makes the relationship between the two even crazier is that they are both capitals
of their respective countries, if you combine their populations it reaches over 15 million.
13.
“Tangier to Gibraltar”-The Moroccan port city of Tangier and the densely populated
British Territory of Gibraltar sit on each side of the mouth of the Mediterranean sea.
To travel the 43 mile distance you would take a 78 seat twin-engine turboprop ATR-72 aircraft.
This jaunt has a flight time of about 25 minutes and total trip time of 50 minutes.
Tangier has been an African stronghold for empires throughout history who wanted to control
the Mediterranean.
For the same reasons, Gibraltar has been contested over on the European side.
In Gibraltar, you can visit the famous Rock of Gibraltar which is a giant chunk of limestone
located at the tip of the tiny peninsula.
The rock has been a landmark to sailors for thousands of years warning them that they
are about to hit the open ocean.
The Rock itself is full of tiny tunnels and remnants of the various fortresses that were
built there it is also home to a protected colony of macaques who are the only group
of non-human primates in Europe that don’t live in captivity.
12.
“Taitung to Green Island”-Taitung is a beautiful town on the coast of Taiwan that
is rich in history and the place to visit if you want to experience native Taiwanese
culture.
Nearby volcanic Green Island is home to some of the most breathtaking natural beauty in
the world.
Green Island sits a mere 23 miles away and is 15 minutes by plane.
You can opt to take 50 minute ferry ride but it is known for being a hassle due to unfriendly
staff and outdated equipment.
To make sure you get even more time to enjoy Green Island’s gorgeous coral reefs, cliffs
and the World War II-era Lyudao Lighthouse, flying is the way to go.
11.
“St. Kitts to Nevis”- It takes only a fast 5 minutes to go the 17.4 miles between
the two islands that make up the tiny Caribbean nation of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The nation was one of the first Islands to be colonized by Europeans and features a wonderful
blend of island and European culture.
The larger island of St. Kitts, also known as St. Christopher, is where most of the people
live and features more urban attractions such as nightclubs, museums and restaurants.
Nevis is like St. Kitts’ beautiful untouched backyard, with plentiful vegetation and quiet
beaches.
So hopping between the two is a must in order to get the full Caribbean experience.
10.
Cayman Brac to Little Cayman- 5 miles of water separates the mirrored islands of Cayman Brac
and Little Cayman.
It is just a short boat ride across, but since there are no ferries on the islands one would
have to seek out a private boat owner which can be difficult and sometimes more expensive
than the flight.
The two airports on these Caribbean Islands are 14 miles away and the flight takes about
10 minutes.
The airline that flies between the two is Cayman Airways and the plane is a DHC-6 Twin
Otter which carries up to 19 passengers.
These beautiful islands are the two smaller of the three islands that makes up the Caymans,
and because of this are less developed than the big island: Grand Cayman. Little Cayman
is known for its wildlife that features rare reptiles and exotic birds.
Cayman Brac for years has been a destination for deep sea fisherman and features several
docks and specialty stores to accommodate.
9.
“Friedrichshafen to St. Gallen”- The Austrian based airline People’s Viennaline just started
transporting passengers between the German town of Friedrichshafen to St. Gallen in Switzerland
in 2016.
Before that travelers had to drive the 40 mile route around Lake Constance that separates
the two, and pass through two different borders.
Now, in what is the world’s shortest international commercial flight, you can fly the 13 mile
route and hop directly over the lake in only 20 minutes.
These Alpine towns each have their own distinct features that make them a history-loving tourist’s
hot spots.
Friedrichshafen is known for its history of aviation as it was home to Friedrich von Zeppelin,
pioneer of the floating dirigibles that bear his name.
St. Gallen is known for the Abbey of St. Gall which was built in the 8th century and holds
thousands of documents and relics that span the ages.
8.
“Karpathos to Kasos”- The Dodecanese islands are a series of over one-hundred Greek islands
located between Turkey and Crete and each hold their own unique histories that go back
to antiquity.
People who are looking to get the full experience of Ancient Greek history may find themselves
wanting to hop between the islands, which can take time if you aren’t flying.
Karpathos and Kasos are two of the most prominent of these islands for sight-seeing, so tourists
often take the ridiculously short 5 minute flight on Olympic Air in order to quickly
traverse the 12 miles between them.
Karpathos is the second largest of the Dodecanese and features beautiful beaches and architecture
that goes back centuries.
Kasos was originally founded by the ancient Minoans and though it is much smaller, had
a big role in the history of mediterranean civilizations so it is a must see for those
interested in archaeology or anthropology.
7.
“Papeete to Moorea”-Papeete is the located on the popular vacation destination the Island
of Tahiti and is the capital city of French Polynesia.
The island of Moorea lies only a short 11 miles away and is a prime locale for nature
lovers as it is almost unblemished by man.
The fastest way to get between these tropical paradises is to take 15 minute flight on Air
Tahiti.
This way you can save plenty of travel time and experience both the resorts and shops
of Papeete and then escape to the Moorea as Charles Darwin once did, to view the unique
vegetation and animal life of the volcanic isle.
Moorea was recently rated the third best island in the world for its awe-inspiring reefs,
perfect beach, lush mountains and enchanting blue lagoons.
6.
“Saipan to Tinian”- The only option for getting to and from the two of the best sight-seeing
islands in the Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan and Tinian, is flight since the ferry that
once went between them closed in 2010.
The islands lie only 10.8 miles apart and the Freedom Air flight that only has four
scheduled departures a week takes about 10 minutes.
Both of the islands were considered extremely important strategic positions during World
War II having been part of the Japanese Empire until the United States forced them out.
The Battle of Saipan was one of the most intense battles fought in the Pacific front and The
Northern Mariana Islands has been a commonwealth of the U.S. ever since the American victory.
Tinian is known historically for being the island that launched the bombers that dropped
the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
5.
“Connemara to Inishmaan”- A six-minute plane ride is all it takes to cross the 10.4
miles between the Irish Mainland in Connemara to Inishmann, part of the Aran Islands.
These are two of the places that are richest in traditional Irish culture and heritage.
The Connemara region is a made up of several small towns that are home to the greatest
portion of speaker of traditional Irish or Gaelic.
Inishmaan is only populated by around 150 people and has a very distinct landscape filled
with striking rock formations and a multitude of different plant species, some of which
can only be found here as the island was greatly impacted by the Ice Age.
The island was once covered in ice that when melted, cracked and carved it giving it its
unique appearance.
4.
“Hoolehua to Kalaupapa”- If you are vacationing on the beautiful island of Molokai, Hawaii
and want to take a day trip to the Kalaupapa National Historical Park the best way to go
is through air on a 10 minute flight.
The Molokai Airport in Hoolehua is a short 8.8 miles away from Kalaupapa but the area
is hard to get to by other means as it has been purposely isolated.
Kalaupapa is one of the last remaining leper colonies in the United States and has been
operating as such since 1866, quarantined from the rest of civilization until 1969.
At its peak, the colony was home to over 1,200 inhabitants but now there are only about 13
people with leprosy living there.
In order to protect the historical nature of the area it was designated a National Historic
Landmark in 1980, and much of the facilities and homes remain the same as they were at
the peak of its population.
3.
“Minami-Daito to Kita Daito”- The Daito Islands are three tiny Japanese islands southeast
of Okinawa and the most convenient way to hop between them is via a flight in a tiny
Bombardier Dash 8 aircraft.
To go the 7 miles between the islands of Minami and Kita it takes only 15 minutes.
The islands are surrounded by reefs and built up on coral so they are known for their plentiful
variety of sea-life.
If you visit the islands you may on any given day see hundreds of different species of fish,
pods of dolphins or whales and countless other marine creatures.
The islands were also fought over during World War II as they were considered vital to the
Japanese’s protection of their mainland.
The United States forced the Japanese out via Airstrikes and Naval bombardment in 1945.
After the war the U.S. occupied the islands until 1972, when they returned control to
the Japanese.
2.
“Caye Caulker to Caye Chapel”- Caye Caulker is a breathtaking island, only about 5 miles
long at its widest point, off the coast of Belize.
It is a popular tourist destination due to its dozens of resorts and it being a haven
for adventurers who love aquatic activities such as sailing and scuba diving.
Caye Chapel is an even smaller island that sits just over 2 miles from Caye Caulker.
Caye Chapel is a private island that was once a popular destination for corporate retreats
due it being home to one of the most gorgeous golf courses in the world and the surrounding
reefs that are perfect for snorkeling.
It was recently bought by a company that plans on turning it into a luxury resort that will
be open to everyone, for a price.
Vacationers can travel back and forth between the two islands on one of the quickest flights
in the world, only taking about 2 minutes.
1.
“Westray to Papa Westray”- The shortest commercial flight in the world is flown by
Loganair Airlines and is takes just under 2 minutes to go the 1.7 miles between the
Scottish Orkney Islands of Westray and Papa Westray.
The two islands have been a gold mine for archeologists and anthropologists as they
features remnants of some of the oldest settlements ever found in Europe.
The larger more populated isle of Westray is home to a dig site where the oldest man
made sculptures and carvings in the British Isles were found.
The smaller Papa Westray, which is believed to have once been a part of the larger island,
is home to several species of unique seabirds and the Knap of Howar Farmstead which is considered
the oldest home in Northern Europe and dates back to the Neolithic Era.
Which of these places would you like to most visit?