The Shortest Flight in the World Is Going Green
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
If you’re tired of hearing about the newly minted longest flight in the world and its many amenities, here is a fun little tidbit of information from the other side of the flight-length spectrum: The shortest flight in the world is looking to fly electric.
For a little background, the shortest flight in the world currently flies for 1.7 miles in Scotland between Westray and Papa Westray in the Orkney Islands. It’s operated by Loganair and uses a variety of small airplane models.
The aircraft is the Britten Norman Islander, which can only seat up to 8 people. Its current record flight length is a brief 53 seconds long.
However, Loganair is looking to make some environmentally friendly changes to its small planes and short flights. “We have been looking into new propulsion technology to make aircraft more environmentally friendly,” Paul Hutton, the chief executive officer of Cranfield, where the flight takes off, told BBC Scotland. “The challenge is getting the technology into a place that’s suitable for commercial service.”
“It would be a remarkable achievement if the first electric-powered commercial aircraft operated here as well,” said Orkney Islands Council Leader James Stockan. The route of the shortest flight in the world is ideal for electric plane operation, as the length of the route would leave less room for error.”
Currently, the airline is working toward getting the technology (quite literally) off the ground by 2021.
Featured image by Ronnie Robertson via Creative Commons.
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 80,000 Points
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $1,600
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: 3X points on dining and 2x points on travel, points transferrable to over a dozen travel partners
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
- Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
- Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
- With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
- Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.