One of the top reasons I was obsessed with visiting Orkney? I wanted to take the shortest commercial flight in the world, which is between two of the small islands – Papa Westray and Westray. This was something I’d dreamed of for years, since I found out it existed. Here’s everything you need to know about taking this flight between two Orkney islands!

Inter-Island Orkney Flights

The first thing to know about the shortest flight in the world? It’s a normal flight run by a normal airline. People, but especially residents, use inter-island flights to get around Orkney. While it may be the flight of a lifetime for you, for some people it’s a regular commute. Some younger passengers use it to get to and from school. It’s not a gimmick or something put on for tourists – it’s a lifeline for island residents!

The flight typically originates in Kirkwall, where it flies to Papa Westray, stopping at Westray, and coming back to Kirkwall – or vice versa. It’s only 1.7 miles between the two airports in the North Isles, and the flight usually takes around 90 seconds. With a favorable wind and light luggage, it can be about a minute – 53 seconds is the record. My flight was quite lengthy in comparison, 2 minutes and 19 seconds!

Flight times vary, but here’s an example of a daytrip option: departing Westray at 9:52am, arriving to Papa Westray 9:54am. Then departing Papa Westray at 16:52, and arriving at Westray at 16:54.

The flight is operated by Loganair and uses their eight-seater Britten Norman Islander plane. There are four rows of two, behind the pilot, with hold luggage stored in the back. I think the best seat on the plane is behind the pilot, as you get to see what they’re doing and you have a window seat! There are no assigned seats on the flights, these are done based on destination or sometimes weight, to make sure the weight is evenly distributed across the plane. I just asked the ground crew as I was boarding if I could sit behind the pilot – they said yes!

Taking the World’s Shortest Flight: What to Expect

I flew from Kirkwall to Papa Westray (which went via North Ronaldsay), and so had already had one taste of an inter-island Orkney flight. Then I flew from Papa Westray to Westray on 9 June 2022. Having spent the morning on a fantastic boat trip out to the Holm of Papay, and the afternoon seeing puffins around the Head of Moclett, I packed up my backpack and walked the short 10-minute walk from the hostel to the airport.

I was about half an hour early, and there was no one else at the airport when I arrived. The airport was one small building (no entry besides crew), and a larger building for a vehicle. Only a few minutes after I got there, a crew member arrived in their truck and put on his hi-vis jacket. He weighed my luggage, put a tag on it, and put it in the cart ready to be transferred to the plane. You need to be at the airport 10 minutes beforehand to do luggage!

I didn’t have to go through security or take my shoes off. No worries about liquids. No one even asked me my name! It was an airport experience unlike anything I’d ever experienced before!

A few other passengers turned up, along with folks awaiting some of the passengers due to arrive. We watched our plane land on the runway, and waited as they exited the plane and collected their luggage from the cart. Then it was our turn!

I got the seat behind the pilot, and we crammed into the eight-seater. He gave us a brief safety demo before we took off. We got up in the air, flew around, and then landed back down on the runway on Westray. My flight took over 2 minutes – such a long flight, ha!

We disembarked, collected luggage, and that was it. The shortest commercial flight in the world, done! Westray Airport is about 3 miles from Pierowall, and I didn’t have a ride arranged (I was planning on walking). Thankfully, the couple who was sat behind me on the flight very kindly gave me a ride into town!

The flight is short and sweet. But it’s an incredible experience – and on a beautiful sunny day, the views are unreal. This was a huge bucket list moment for me!

Once you’ve returned to Mainland Orkney, don’t forget to pick up your certificate at the Loganair Inter-Island desk at Kirkwall Airport. It doesn’t cost anything extra and it’s so cool!

Booking With Loganair

As this flight is a regularly scheduled commercial flight, you can book with Loganair on their website. There are several different types of fares available – I’ve listed the ones I could find here. Prices are one-way (ie. Westray to Papa Westray) and will vary, but this is what I found in my research:

• Excursion (£7.25), this is for a return trip with a minimum of 1 night spent at the destination (maximum stay of 3 months)
• Island Saver (£10.50), for trips between the North Isles and Kirkwall, or for travel between the North Isles
• Economy (£17)
• Fly Flex Plus (£24)
• Sightseer fares – these are only bookable on the day of departure, for round-trip travel originating in Kirkwall (stopovers are not permitted). You won’t be able to see Westray/Papa Westray, but you’ll be able to take the flight!

Wondering how much my Orkney trip cost? Check out my Orkney budget guide!

I recommend booking as early in advance as possible in order to guarantee that you’ll be able to take the flight. Remember, there are only 8 seats per flight – it will fill up! If you are planning to stay on Papa Westray and/or Westray (which I highly recommend), I’d strongly encourage you to check availability for accommodation before booking the flight. You don’t want to have the flights booked, and then realize there’s nowhere to stay on the island!

Flights can be canceled in bad weather. If it’s dangerously windy, or too cloudy/foggy/misty, they may have to cancel the flight. Another blogger I know actually got stuck on Papa Westray for three days due to a combination of weather, covid restrictions on ferries, and bad luck! Because of this, I recommend you book your flight in the beginning or middle of your Orkney trip. That way, if your flight is canceled, you will hopefully have time to reschedule before you leave Orkney.

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

Taking the shortest commercial flight in the world between Papa Westray and Westray was an unbelievable, once-in-a-lifetime experience. This was a real highlight of my trip to Orkney, and I loved getting to explore each of these islands. If you’re looking for a unique flight experience, get yourself booked on an Inter-Island Orkney flight! I hope this post helps if you’re planning on taking the world’s shortest commercial flight.

Check out my reel of the flight on Instagram here!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Maja Proescholdt (@awaywithmaja)

Would you take this flight between the Orkney islands?

You might also like my posts:

The Complete Orkney Guide: An 8-Day Itinerary for the Orkney Islands

Orkney: What You Need to Know Before You Go

How Much Does it Cost to Visit Orkney on a Budget?

What to Pack For a Trip to Orkney, Scotland

Where to See Puffins on Orkney

A Travel Guide for Papa Westray, Orkney

What to See and Do on Westray, Orkney

Hoy, Orkney: Visiting the Old Man of Hoy and Rackwick Bay

A 7-Day Itinerary For Scotland’s North Coast 500 Road Trip

All of my Scotland posts!

Like this post? Pin it for later!