Small distance, big passport stamp
We often celebrate aviation for shrinking the world, connecting cities thousands of miles apart in a single day. But some of the most fascinating commercial flights cover distances you could almost cycle. These ultra-short international routes exist because of geography, island communities, historical borders, and the simple reality that a 25-minute flight still beats a four-hour boat ride.
According to OAG's aviation analytics, every single entry in the top ten shortest international commercial flights is under 100 km, some barely longer than a city marathon. Here they are, ranked from shortest to longest.
Route distances and scheduling data are sourced from OAG's aviation analytics . This article is an independent editorial interpretation of publicly available data, presented with original analysis and interactive route maps.
The 10 shortest international commercial flights
1. Brazzaville (BZV) → Kinshasa (FIH) - 24 km
Scheduled Flight Time: ~50 minutes
Aircraft: Boeing 737-800
Weekly Frequency: 7
Countries: Republic of the Congo → Democratic Republic of the Congo
The world's shortest international commercial flight connects two national capitals separated by just 24 km of the Congo River. What makes this route remarkable is not the distance but the aircraft: a full-size 148-seat Boeing 737-800 operates what passengers will experience as barely enough time to buckle their seatbelt before the crew begins preparing for arrival. Brazzaville and Kinshasa are the two closest capital cities in the world, but despite sitting almost within shouting distance of each other, separate visa regimes and limited river crossing infrastructure mean the air link remains essential for diplomats, government officials and business travellers.
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2. St Martin/SFG (French Part) → St Barthélemy (SBH) - 31 km
Aircraft: Cessna 208B Grand Caravan
Weekly Frequency: 37 (~5 times per day on average)
Countries: St Martin (French Collectivity) → St Barthélemy (French Overseas Collectivity)
Around 495 times shorter than the world's longest flight, this 31 km Caribbean hop departs from Grand Case-Espérance Airport (SFG) on the French side of the island of St Martin. Its destination, Gustaf III Airport in St Barthélemy, is one of aviation's most extreme runways: just 650 metres long on a hillside above a beach, pilots must dive sharply over a ridge in a controlled descent before touching down, only specially certified captains are permitted to land here. The island's luxury resort reputation sustains a brisk five-flights-per-day schedule, and the Caravan's nine-seat cabin makes the crossing feel closer to a private transfer than a commercial flight.
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3. Saba (SAB) → St Maarten/SXM (Dutch Part) - 45 km
Aircraft: DeHavilland-Bombardier DHC-6 Twin Otter
Weekly Frequency: 55
Countries: Saba (Special Municipality of the Netherlands) → Sint Maarten (Constituent Country, Kingdom of the Netherlands)
St Maarten and St Martin share the same island but are governed by two different nations, the Dutch side hosts Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM), famous among plane spotters for Maho Beach, where jets appear to skim beachgoers' heads on final approach. Saba, a tiny volcanic island sometimes called the "Unspoiled Queen" of the Caribbean, relies on this DHC-6 link for medical travel, supplies, and tourism. Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport on Saba is reputedly the world's shortest commercial runway at just 400 metres, hemmed in by cliffs on both ends, a test of nerves for even seasoned Caribbean flyers.
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4. St Maarten/SXM (Dutch Part) → St Eustatius (EUX) - 61 km
Aircraft: DeHavilland-Bombardier DHC-6 Twin Otter
Weekly Frequency: 56 (the most frequent in the top 10)
Countries: Sint Maarten (Constituent Country, Kingdom of the Netherlands) → St Eustatius (Special Municipality of the Netherlands)
This is the highest-frequency route in the entire top ten, operating 56 times per week, averaging eight flights per day. St Eustatius (locally known as "Statia") is a small volcanic island with a population of around 3,000, and the Twin Otter is its primary link to the wider world. Princess Juliana again serves as the hub for this inter-island hop, making SXM one of the most remarkable airports in terms of the variety and brevity of its international connections. Six of the top ten shortest international flights touch Caribbean islands, and SXM features on four of them.
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5. Bonaire (BON) → Curaçao (CUR) - 74 km
Scheduled Flight Time: ~25 minutes
Aircraft: Saab 340
Weekly Frequency: 17
Countries: Bonaire (Special Municipality of the Netherlands) → Curaçao (Constituent Country, Kingdom of the Netherlands)
This 25-minute flight connects two of the ABC islands, Bonaire and Curaçao, the B and C of a trio completed by Aruba to the west. The geographical order of the islands from west to east is A-C-B, with 125 km between Aruba and Curaçao, which places that leg just outside this top ten. Bonaire is globally celebrated as one of the world's premier scuba diving destinations, with marine park walls of living coral descending into crystal-clear water. The Saab 340 regional turboprop is perfectly suited to the short hop, and the route sustains regular day-tripper and diving tourism traffic between the two islands.
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6. Kasane (BBK), Botswana → Victoria Falls (VFA), Zimbabwe - 77 km
Aircraft: Cessna (Single Turboprop, 6 seats)
Weekly Frequency: 10
Countries: Botswana → Zimbabwe
The only African entry outside of the Congo crossing, this route connects the wildlife safari hub of Kasane, gateway to Chobe National Park, one of Africa's highest concentrations of elephants, with the iconic Victoria Falls on the Zimbabwe border. The six-seater Cessna makes this the most intimate aircraft in the entire top ten, giving passengers a low-altitude aerial perspective over the Chobe River floodplains and Zambezi before landing. At 77 km and 10 flights per week, it serves primarily high-end safari travellers combining game drives in Botswana with a visit to one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.
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7. St Vincent (SVD) → Carriacou (CRU), Grenada - 79 km
Aircraft: DeHavilland-Bombardier DHC-6 Twin Otter
Weekly Frequency: 14 (~twice per day)
Countries: St Vincent and the Grenadines → Grenada
The Windward Islands chain of the Eastern Caribbean is defined by the Twin Otter, and this route between St Vincent and the small Grenadian island of Carriacou is a classic example. Carriacou, known for its boat-building tradition, clear waters, and unhurried pace, is connected to the Grenadian mainland by sea, making air access via St Vincent its most reliable high-speed link. The twice-daily schedule places it comfortably in day-tripper territory, and the low-level approach over the island reveals its horseshoe-shaped harbour before touchdown on the compact airstrip.
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8. Dammam (DMM), Saudi Arabia → Bahrain (BAH) - 87 km
Scheduled Flight Time: ~40 minutes
Aircraft: Airbus A320neo
Weekly Frequency: 10
Countries: Saudi Arabia → Bahrain
The only Middle Eastern entry in the top ten, and the only route on the list to use a modern narrowbody jet capable of seating up to 180 passengers. The King Fahd Causeway connecting Dammam to Bahrain by road is one of the longest sea causeways in the world and is heavily used, particularly on weekends when Saudi nationals cross for leisure. The A320neo operating the air route covers a distance that would take around an hour to drive, making the flight only competitive when factoring in the full airport experience. Nevertheless, the route sustains scheduled service thanks to its role in connecting Bahrain International Airport to regional traffic.
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9. St Maarten/SXM (Dutch Part) → St Kitts (SKB) - 90 km
Aircraft: DeHavilland-Bombardier DHC-6 Twin Otter
Weekly Frequency: 16
Countries: Sint Maarten (Constituent Country, Kingdom of the Netherlands) → Saint Kitts and Nevis
Princess Juliana International Airport makes its fourth appearance in the top ten, this time as the origin of a hop northwestward to Robert L. Bradshaw International Airport in St Kitts. St Kitts and Nevis, the smallest nation in the Western Hemisphere by area, draws visitors to its volcanic peaks, colonial-era sugar estates, and luxurious resort beaches. The Twin Otter connects it efficiently to the Caribbean's busiest inter-island hub. Aviation enthusiasts visiting SXM for Maho Beach will often find this short flight an easy way to extend their island-hopping adventure.
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10. Fort Lauderdale (FLL), USA → Bimini North (NSB), Bahamas - 95 km
Scheduled Flight Time: ~40 minutes
Aircraft: Cessna (Single Turboprop)
Weekly Frequency: 17
Countries: United States → Bahamas
Bimini is the westernmost island of the Bahamas and therefore the closest Bahamian land to the continental United States, sitting just 95 km from Fort Lauderdale. The roughly 40-minute flight, operated from a seaplane base (NSB stands for Bimini North Seaplane Base), is a popular escape for American visitors seeking world-class fishing, snorkelling, scuba diving, and nightlife without the hassle of a long journey. Ernest Hemingway was a famous devotee of Bimini, and the island retains an old-Florida charm that contrasts sharply with the Miami megalopolis visible on a clear day. It closes out a top ten in which every single route covers less distance than a typical city-centre-to-airport drive in a large metropolitan area.
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All 10 routes on one map
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What do these routes have in common?
A few patterns emerge when you look at the full top ten:
- Six of the ten are Caribbean island hops. The fragmented geography of the Lesser Antilles, combined with a lack of reliable inter-island ferry alternatives and the vital role of tourism, makes aviation the backbone of inter-island connectivity. Princess Juliana (SXM) alone appears on four routes.
- Two are in Africa. Brazzaville–Kinshasa exists because two capital cities face each other across a river but are in different sovereign states with complex crossing procedures. Kasane–Victoria Falls serves the safari and adventure tourism corridor of southern Africa.
- One is in the Middle East. Dammam–Bahrain is unique in using a full narrowbody jet, the A320neo, making it the largest aircraft on the list and arguably the most fuel-inefficient per kilometre flown.
- One links the USA to the Bahamas via a seaplane base, reflecting the unique geography and leisure demand of the closest Caribbean island chain to the continental US mainland.
- Every route is under 100 km. All of them. Which means that on the world's shortest international commercial flight, you cross an international border in less distance than many people commute to work.
The aircraft of choice: small, short and tough
The range of aircraft operating these routes, from a six-seat Cessna to a 180-seat A320neo, reflects the huge variety of demand patterns:
- DeHavilland DHC-6 Twin Otter: The undisputed king of short Caribbean inter-island routes. STOL performance, unpaved runway capability, and robust reliability in hot-and-high conditions have made it indispensable across the Lesser Antilles for 50 years.
- Cessna 208B Grand Caravan: The workhorse of island hops where even the Twin Otter is too large. Its nine-seat cabin and ability to use the shortest strips in the region make it ideal for routes like St Martin–St Barthélemy.
- Saab 340: A 34-seat regional turboprop providing a step up in comfort for the Bonaire–Curaçao run, where demand is moderate but consistent.
- Airbus A320neo: Entirely out of place from a distance-efficiency standpoint, but the Dammam–Bahrain route uses it to maximise capacity on a commercially important corridor where passengers demand full airline service.
- Boeing 737-800: As unexpected as the A320neo and even larger, the 737 on Brazzaville–Kinshasa flies because the route needs the political weight of a mainline airline and full cabin service, distance be damned.
Track these routes in My Flight Routes
Short international flights are some of the most memorable in any aviation enthusiast's logbook, tiny aircraft, dramatic short approaches and passport stamps for distances you could drive in an hour. Download the CSVs above to import any of these routes into your My Flight Routes map, or explore them directly in the app.