Top ten shortest international flight routes in the world.

The world’s smallest international flight routes demonstrate how air travel can connect locations over incredibly short distances. These routes, often under 100 km, serve as vital links for communities, businesses, and tourists, demonstrating the efficiency and necessity of aviation in unique scenarios.

This article examines the world’s shortest international flight routes by distance, concentrating on frequency, aircraft types, and operating settings. All of the flights listed match the criteria for regular scheduling and use fixed-wing aircraft, highlighting an interesting variety of aviation configurations.

Shortest International Flight Routes in the World

All flights discussed travel less than 100 kilometers in Great Circle Distance (GCD), a measurement of the shortest trip between two places on a spherical Earth.

GCD is a key statistic in aviation, allowing for precise comparisons regardless of the curvature of the Earth.

This research only considers routes with regular weekly frequencies. Flights under semi-charter contracts are eliminated, ensuring that all examples reflect standard commercial operations.

The following is a list of the world’s shortest international flight routes, organized by distance.

Rank	Airport Pair	Route	Airlines	Aircraft	Distance (km)	Duration (in Min)	Flight Frequency (Weekly)
1	BZV-FIH	Brazzaville to Kinshasa	ASKY Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines	Boeing 737-800 Passenger	24	15	7
2	SBH-SFG	St Barthelemy to St Martin	Air Antilles	Cessna 208B Caravan	31	15	37
3	SAB-SXM	Saba to St Maarten	Winair	DHC6 Twin Otter	45	15	55
4	EUX-SXM	St Eustatius to St Maarten	Winair	DHC6 Twin Otter	61	20	56
5	BON-CUR	Bonaire to Curacao	Winair	Saab 340	74	35	17
6	BBK-VFA	Kasane to Victoria Falls	Airlink	Cessna Light Aircraft (Single Turboprop)	77	35	14
7	CRU-SVD	St Vincent to Carriacou	InterCaribbean Airways, Sunrise Airways	DHC6 Twin Otter	79	35	10
8	BAH-DMM	Dammam to Bahrain	Gulf Air	Airbus A320neo	87	40	10
9	SKB-SXM	St Kitts to St Maarten	Winair	DHC6 Twin Otter	90	30	16
10	FLL-NSB	Fort Lauderdale to Bimini	Silver Airways, JetBlue, United	Cessna Light Aircraft (Single Turboprop)	95	45	17

1. Brazzaville (BZV) to Kinshasa (FIH)

• Distance: 24 km
• Airline: ASKY Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines
• Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
• Flight Time: 15 minutes (Actual Time) | 50 min (Scheduled Time)
• Frequency: 7 flights weekly

The shortest international flight route in the world connects Brazzaville (BZV), the Republic of Congo’s capital, to Kinshasa (FIH) in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

The flight is only 24 kilometers long and is meant to last 50 minutes, but it takes around 15 minutes.

2. St Martin (SFG) to St Barthelemy (SBH)

• Distance: 31 km
• Airline: Air Antilles
• Aircraft: Cessna 208B Caravan
• Flight Time: 15 minutes
• Frequency: 37 flights weekly

This 31-kilometer route connects two prominent Caribbean islands, St Martin (French half) and St Barthelemy, and draws travelers looking for a quick change of scenery.

With an average of five daily flights, it is nearly 495 times shorter than the world’s longest flight, highlighting the distinct regional demand for ultra-short routes.

3. Saba (SAB) to St Maarten (SXM)

• Distance: 45 km
• Airline: Winair
• Aircraft: De Havilland-Bombardier DHC6 Twin Otter
• Flight Time: 15 minutes
• Frequency: 55 flights weekly

This flight connects Saba to St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) on the Dutch side of the island.

St Maarten/St Martin, known for its multiple airports, is a popular destination for regional air travel, with this route ranking as one of the shortest in the Caribbean.

4. St Maarten (SXM) to St Eustatius (EUX)

• Distance: 61 km
• Airline: Winair
• Aircraft: DHC6 Twin Otter
• Flight Time: 20 minutes
• Frequency: 56 flights weekly

This route is the most common among the Top 10 shortest commercial flights, with 56 trips each week. It emphasizes the importance of air travel in the Caribbean, which is home to six of the world’s ten shortest flights.

5. Bonaire (BON) to Curacao (CUR)

• Distance: 74 km
• Airline: Winair
• Aircraft: Saab 340
• Flight Time: 35 minutes
• Frequency: 17 flights weekly

This 25-minute flight connects Bonaire and Curacao, which are part of the ABC Islands. The three islands—Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao—are geographically aligned from west to east.

Although the Aruba-Curacao route is 125 kilometers long and exceeds the threshold for this list, the Bonaire-Curacao segment is among the world’s shortest flights.

6. Kasane (BBK) to Victoria Falls (VFA)

• Distance: 77 km
• Airline: Airlink
• Aircraft: Cessna Light Aircraft (Single Turboprop)
• Flight Time: 35 minutes
• Frequency: 14 flights weekly

This picturesque road connecting Botswana and Zimbabwe spans 77 kilometers. With 420 planned flights throughout the summer season, it demonstrates the route’s popularity, particularly among tourists visiting the world-renowned Victoria Falls.

7. St Vincent (SVD) to Carriacou (CRU)

• Distance: 79 km
• Airline: InterCaribbean Airways, Sunrise Airways
• Aircraft: DHvilld-Bombardier DHC6 Twin Otter
• Flight Time: 35 minutes
• Frequency: 10 flights weekly

This route provides a convenient daily link between St Vincent and Carriacou, appealing to both tourists and inhabitants. With a weekly frequency of ten flights, it enables flexible day-trip travel, stressing its importance in local connectivity.

8. Dammam (DMM) to Bahrain (BAH)

• Distance: 87 km
• Airline: Gulf Air
• Aircraft: Airbus A320neo
• Flight Time: 40 minutes
• Frequency: 10 flights weekly

As the only Middle Eastern route on our list, this 87-kilometer trip connects Dammam, Saudi Arabia, with Bahrain.

This route, which uses the Airbus A320neo, can carry more than 120 passengers every trip, highlighting its relevance in regional business and leisure travel.

9. St Maarten (SXM) to St Kitts (SKB)

• Distance: 90 km
• Airline: Winair
• Aircraft: DHvilld-Bombardier DHC6 Twin Otter
• Flight Time: 30 minutes
• Frequency: 16 flights weekly

This is St. Maarten/St Martin’s fourth and last appearance on this list. Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), known for its close proximity to Maho Beach, provides aviation fans with beautiful views.

This road connects the Dutch side of the island to St. Kitts, a major tourist destination in the Leeward Islands.

10. Fort Lauderdale (FLL) to Bimini North SPB (NSB)

• Distance: 95 km
• Airline: Silver Airways, JetBlue, United
• Aircraft: Cessna Light Aircraft (Single Turboprop)
• Flight Time: 45 minutes
• Frequency: 17 flights weekly

The 45-minute flight from Fort Lauderdale to Bimini is a popular alternative for American travelers traveling to the Bahamas for leisure activities like fishing and snorkeling.

Bottom Line

These ultra-short international flights demonstrate aviation’s ability to service a wide range of demands, including cross-border business and tourism.

Each route reflects regional needs and operational inventiveness, offering seamless connectivity for both passengers and commodities.

Understanding these flights provides insight into aviation’s greater function in connecting even the tiniest distances.

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