Austrian airline offers ‘world’s shortest international flight’

Flight takes passenger across Lake Constance between Switzerland and Germany

Swiss Green Party politician Meinrad Gschwend has said he wants to see the 8-minute flight banned on environmental grounds. Photograph: Getty Images
Swiss Green Party politician Meinrad Gschwend has said he wants to see the 8-minute flight banned on environmental grounds. Photograph: Getty Images

An Austrian airline has begun what it claims is the world's shortest regular international connection — an eight-minute hop across Lake Constance between Switzerland and Germany.

The flight offered by People’s Viennaline connects St Gallen-Altenrhein in Switzerland with Friedrichshafen in southern Germany.

It is part of a route which continues onward to the western German city of Cologne. Passengers can book only the short part for €40 euro .

Swiss Green Party politician Meinrad Gschwend has said he wants to see the flights banned on environmental grounds.

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The airline responded by saying that driving around the lake for an hour would produce as many harmful emissions as the short flight.

AP