As of 2026, the shortest international commercial flight in the world is the hop between Brazzaville, Republic of the Congo, and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo. These two capital cities sit directly opposite each other on the banks of the Congo River, separated by only about 1.6 kilometers (1 mile) of water at their closest point. The actual flight distance between the two international airports is roughly 24 km (15 miles), and the time spent in the air is typically only 5 to 10 minutes. Despite the incredibly short distance, it remains a fully functional international route served by airlines like ASKY and Ethiopian Airlines, primarily catering to transit passengers connecting to longer flights. Another famous "short hop" is the 12-minute flight between the Caribbean islands of Anguilla (UK) and St. Maarten (Netherlands), which is popular for tourists seeking a quick island transfer without using the ferry system.