The fastest flights last from less than 1 minute to 20 minutes in the air, and one takes place over the waters of the Aegean.
For those travellers who dread the thought of being stuck inside a plane for hours to reach their destinations, there is finally a solution: It is possible to board a plane and reach a new destination in less than 10 minutes!
The shortest commercial flight in the world is 53 seconds, and the 10-minute flight separating Karpathos from Kasos is also among the shortest worldwide.
Westray to Papa Westray, Scotland
Only 2.7 km separate two of the Orkney Islands—a group of 70 islands and islets scattered off the northeast coast of mainland Scotland. The islands have been inhabited since prehistoric times, but today, only about 20 have permanent residents.
The flight between Westray and Papa Westray typically takes less than two minutes from take-off to landing - or just 53 seconds when the winds are favourable.
Passengers squeeze into a plane that has room for just eight passengers, with the pilot sitting in an open cockpit inches away. The flight operates two to three times daily, serving the 80 people living on Papa Westray Island.
From Karpathos to Kasos, Greece
Karpathos and Kasos belong to the Dodecanese island group in the southeastern Aegean and are between Rhodes and Crete. The craggy mountains that tower over the turquoise waters of the two islands and their picturesque villages are reminiscent of postcard images.
You can generally take a half-hour journey with the liner to travel between Karpathos and Kasos.
Alternatively, boarding one of Olympic Air's regularly scheduled flights between the two islands will cover 21 km in just 10 minutes from take-off to landing in Kasos.
Minami-Daito to Kitadaito, Japan
Japan's shortest commercial flight takes passengers between the island villages of Minami-Daito and Kitadaito, which are just 12 km apart.
The islands are part of Japan's Okinawa region, located nearly 650 km south of the rest of the country, closer to Taiwan. The place is known touristically for the hundreds of caves scattered around the islands, with the best known and largest being the Hoshino Cave.
Japan Airlines has a scheduled flight between the two islands that takes about three minutes.
From the island of St. Maarten to Anguilla, Caribbean
The island of St. Maarten is part of the Lesser Antilles of the Caribbean, and those who love exotic air travel may already be familiar with Maho Beach, where a stretch of sand lies right at the end of the runway of Princess Juliana International Airport, the island's main airport.
Beachgoers are near huge jets landing at the airport, an exciting contrast of sight and sound that combines modern technology with the serenity of the famous Caribbean beaches.
The island's airport serves as a regional hub for other nearby islands, many of which are only a dozen or so miles away. Among the closest are Saba, St. Barth's, and Anguilla—the latter can be reached by plane in about seven to ten minutes.
From Connemara to Inisheer, Ireland
The Aran Islands are a trio of islands off the coast of Galway, in the west of Ireland. With few inhabitants, rugged landscapes and fascinating ruins dating back to the Iron Age, the Aran Islands are a special day trip from Galway for many visitors.
Many choose to board the ferry for a journey that takes anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes each way, depending on the island they decide to visit.
But travellers short on time can opt for one of the world's shortest commercial flights, from Connemara Airport on the mainland and Inisheer Airport, in a plane that seats just eight passengers, so small that each passenger must be weighed before the flight to ensure that the weight will be properly distributed.
Flights are scheduled year-round and last between six and 10 minutes, covering just 19 km.
READ MORE: Agios Pavlos: The isolated beach in Crete with a Byzantine church and beautiful waters.
