Top 10 Shortest Widebody Flights in the World

Widebody aircraft have always been synonymous with long-haul flights, transporting passengers and goods across continents and oceans in unparalleled comfort. Their wide fuselage, dual aisles, and long-range capabilities make them the backbone for intercontinental routes. However, there’s an intriguing corner of aviation where these aircraft are deployed on short routes, often lasting under an hour.

Imagine boarding a Boeing 777 or Airbus A350, aircraft designed for long-haul flights, and taking off on a flight that barely lasts 15 minutes. These shortest widebody flights are aviation anomalies, yet they serve vital roles for airlines. Whether connecting key business hubs, facilitating cargo transport, or ensuring seamless passenger connectivity, these routes make strategic use of widebodies despite their brevity.

In this article, we’ll dive into the 10 shortest widebody flights in the world, uncovering their operational quirks, the aircraft operated, and why airlines deploy widebody aircraft on such short distances.

Why Widebody Jets on Short Flights?

Widebody aircraft are not the default choice for short-haul flights, yet several factors make their use on certain routes both practical and necessary:

1. High Passenger Demand: Some regions experience huge passenger demand on short routes, making the capacity of widebody jets essential.
2. Operational Efficiency: Airlines often use widebodies as part of larger triangular or fifth-freedom routes to optimize fleet utilization.
3. Cargo Requirements: Widebodies offer significant cargo capacity, making them ideal for short-haul routes where freight demand is high.
4. Fleet Standardization: On some routes, airlines may not have smaller aircraft stationed, leading to widebodies being used even for shorter segments.

Exploring the Shortest Widebody Flights

1. Brazzaville (BZV) – Kinshasa (FIH), Congo

• Airline: Air France
• Flight Distance: 16 miles
• Flight Time: 12–15 minutes
• Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER, Airbus A350-900
• Route: Paris (CDG) – Brazzaville (BZV) – Kinshasa (FIH) – Paris (CDG)

The Brazzaville to Kinshasa flight, operated by Air France, is the shortest widebody flight in the world, covering a mere 16 miles across the Congo River. Despite the close proximity between these two capital cities, the flight plays an important role in connecting travelers between two bustling cities in Central Africa.

While the flight time is just 12–15 minutes, it is essential for regional connectivity, as road transportation between Brazzaville and Kinshasa can be challenging. The route is part of a triangular flight schedule that includes Paris as the starting point. Passengers flying on this route often continue to or from Paris, with widebody aircraft including the Boeing 777-200ER and Airbus A350-900 providing ample space and comfort.

Beyond its practicality, the flight also provides stunning aerial views of the Congo River, which divides Brazzaville and Kinshasa. Moreover, the triangular routing ensures efficiency, as the aircraft makes stops at both African cities before returning to Europe.

2. Zanzibar (ZNZ) – Dar es Salaam (DAR), Tanzania

• Airlines: Air Tanzania, Air France, KLM
• Flight Distance: 45 miles
• Flight Time: 15 minutes
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-8, Boeing 777-200ER
• Route (KLM): Amsterdam (AMS) – Zanzibar (ZNZ) – Dar es Salaam (DAR) – Amsterdam (AMS)

Ranking at number two, the route between Zanzibar and Dar es Salaam is one of the shortest widebody flights in the world, covering just 45 miles. While this short segment could easily be covered by smaller regional aircraft, the flight is typically operated using larger jets such as the Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 777-200ER, catering to both passenger and cargo demand.

Air Tanzania, KLM, and Air France frequently operate this route, with flights connecting to European destinations like Paris and Amsterdam. For travelers heading to or from Zanzibar, the flight represents a critical link to mainland Tanzania, where Dar es Salaam serves as the country’s largest city and commercial hub.

Moreover, this short flight is not just a quick transit between two cities; it’s also a key route for tourism, as Zanzibar remains a top tourist destination with its beautiful beaches and rich cultural heritage. Additionally, the route handles a significant volume of cargo, from agricultural goods to industrial supplies, leveraging the spacious bellies of widebody jets.

3. Antigua (ANU) – St. Kitts (SKB), Caribbean

• Airline: British Airways
• Flight Distance: 62 miles
• Flight Time: 25 minutes
• Aircraft: Boeing 777-200ER
• Route: London (LGW) – Antigua (ANU) – St. Kitts (SKB) – Antigua (ANU) – London (LGW)

The Caribbean hop from Antigua to St. Kitts route serves as a vital connection between two of the Caribbean’s most popular islands. At just 62 miles, this short flight is operated by British Airways‘ Boeing 777-200ER aircraft. Despite the short flight time of only 25 minutes, the aircraft’s spacious interior offers comfort and luxury for travelers, especially those connecting to or from London.

This route also serves as an important lifeline for the local economies of both islands, as it facilitates trade, tourism, and family connections. Tourists often hop between these islands for their pristine beaches, and the flight is convenient for locals, offering easy access to larger international airports in Antigua and St. Kitts. Boeing 777’s large capacity ensures that even on short flights, both passenger and cargo needs are met efficiently.

4. Douala (DLA), Cameroon – Malabo (SSG), Equatorial Guinea

• Airline: Ethiopian Airlines
• Flight Distance: 72 miles
• Flight Time: 20 minutes
• Aircraft: Airbus A350-900, Boeing 787-8
• Route: Addis Ababa (ADD) – Douala (DLA) – Malabo (SSG) – Addis Ababa (ADD)

Connecting two key cities in West Africa, this route is a crucial link in the Central African region, and it is operated by Ethiopian Airlines with their Airbus A350-900 and Boeing 787-8 aircraft. This route plays a significant role in facilitating economic and business exchanges between Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea.

Many passengers use this flight to connect to Ethiopian Airlines’ hub in Addis Ababa, while others rely on it for travel between these key African nations. The use of widebody aircraft on this route also enables the airlines to meet both passenger demand and the considerable volume of goods transported between these two cities.

5. Guangzhou (CAN) – Hong Kong (HKG), China

• Airline: Cathay Pacific
• Flight Distance: 84 miles
• Flight Time: 40 minutes
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-300

Despite the availability of high-speed rail, this route remains popular due to Cathay Pacific’s international connections at Hong Kong International Airport. The Airbus A330-300 caters to both local traffic and international passengers transiting through Hong Kong.

Moreover, this flight is often a busy route for business travelers who need to get to Hong Kong for meetings or international connections. Hong Kong International Airport offers a range of onward destinations globally, making this short flight vital for both corporate and leisure travelers.

6. Ningbo (NGB) – Shanghai (PVG), China

• Airline: Shanghai Airlines
• Flight Distance: 93 miles
• Flight Time: 40 minutes
• Aircraft: Boeing 787-9

This short domestic route highlights the importance of connectivity in China’s booming industrial regions. The Boeing 787-9 ensures ample space for both passengers and freight, supporting Ningbo’s status as a major port city.

This route ensures that passengers are quickly connected to Shanghai, China’s largest city and a global financial powerhouse. Ningbo, a major port city, is closely tied to Shanghai’s economic network, and the flight helps maintain a steady flow of goods and services between the two. It also facilitates tourism and offers a fast and efficient travel option for those needing to commute between the two cities.

7. Bridgetown (BGI) – St. Vincent (SVD), Caribbean

• Airline: Virgin Atlantic
• Flight Distance: 112 miles
• Flight Time: 30 minutes
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-300
• Route: London (LHR) – Bridgetown (BGI) – St. Vincent (SVD) – London (LHR)

This fifth-freedom route serves as a vital connection for locals while also catering to international travelers exploring the Caribbean. Virgin Atlantic’s use of the Airbus A330-300 ensures both luxury and efficiency on this short hop. St. Vincent is a popular destination for Caribbean travelers, and this short hop makes it easy for tourists to explore the islands.

8. Dhaka (DAC) – Sylhet (ZYL), Bangladesh

• Airline: Biman Bangladesh Airlines
• Flight Distance: 121 miles
• Flight Time: 25 minutes
• Aircraft: Boeing 777-300ER, Boeing 787-9

This route is crucial for connecting Sylhet, home to a large expatriate community, with Dhaka’s international airport. Widebody jets facilitate onward travel to Europe and the Middle East, while also accommodating significant cargo loads.

Many passengers use this flight as a connecting leg to international destinations via Dhaka, while the flight also serves as a critical link for transporting goods, especially during peak seasons like Eid.

9. Guatemala City (GUA) – San Salvador (SAL), Central America

• Airline: Iberia
• Flight Distance: 126 miles
• Flight Time: 35 minutes
• Aircraft: Airbus A330-200

Part of Iberia’s transatlantic service, the Guatemala City to San Salvador route, covering 126 miles, is a short but crucial connection between two of Central America’s key capitals. Additionally, this route supports trade between the countries, with various agricultural and manufactured goods being transported between Guatemala and El Salvador.

10. Milan-Malpensa (MXP) – Zurich (ZRH), Europe

• Airline: Ethiopian Airlines
• Flight Distance: 127 miles
• Flight Time: 35 minutes
• Aircraft: Airbus A350-900

The Milan to Zurich route is another short international flight, covering just 127 miles between two major European cities. Despite the short distance, this route plays an important role for travelers connecting between Milan’s business hub and Zurich’s financial center, two cities that attract large numbers of corporate travelers.

While smaller aircraft could serve the route, Ethiopian Airlines uses a widebody to support high demand during peak times, offering spacious cabins and improved cargo capacity. This connection is also vital for those traveling onward to Addis Ababa and other African destinations.

Conclusion: Shortest Widebody Flights

The world of aviation is full of surprises, and these shortest widebody flights are a testament to the versatility of modern aircraft and the creativity of airlines. Whether catering to high passenger demand, cargo requirements, or regional connectivity, these routes prove that widebody jets can excel even on the shortest journeys.

Next time you board a widebody aircraft, consider the possibility – you might be flying on one of the world’s shortest routes!

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Source: Cirium, GC Map, Flightradar24, Sam Chui