Did you know that the Guinness World Record for the world’s shortest passenger flight belongs to a service that flies to and from a teeny tiny airport in the north of Scotland? The 1.7-mile flight between the Orkney islands of Papa Westray and Westray normally lasts around one minute and 40 seconds, but the fastest ever recorded was a mere 53 seconds.
The flight is run by Loganair on a small eight-seater carrier as part of its inter-island service and is mostly used by by teachers and students visiting the archeological sites on Papa Westray. Now, regulars on the remote, record-breaking flight can look forward to a brand spanking new terminal building at Westray Airport. And that’s exciting – after all, the likelihood is they’ll spend more time there than actually in the air.
Last month, the local council revealed plans to build a new terminal building at Westray Airport and boost the number of parking spaces to a whopping 10 (including two electric vehicle charging points and one disabled access space).
The new ‘simple, practical, and sustainable’ terminal will replace the existing one, which is 30 years old and, the council says, is no longer fit for purpose. It would have a kitchen, a departures waiting room, and a ‘watch room’, from which we assume passengers will be able to watch planes take off and land. That’s as well as a garage for a fire service vehicle, two toilets, and a shower for fire service personnel. Part of the old building would be repurposed into a shelter for e-bikes.
Although the council itself has submitted the plans, it still needs approval from its development management team before work can start.
A return journey on the world’s shortest flight costs £16 (around £5.30 per minute) and it’s your only option if you want to get between the two islands as there’s no bridge or ferry available. Westray is the sixth largest of the Orkney Islands with a population of 600, while Papa Westray is one of the smallest with just 90 residents. Read why nearby Orkney is one of Time Out’s best places to visit in 2025 here.
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