On the 31st, “Japan’s shortest air route,” which connected remote islands about 360 km east of the main island of Okinawa, was abolished with Flight 735 arriving from Minamidaito Island to Kitadaito Island as the last flight. It was known as the shortest route, with a straight-line distance of just 13 km and a flight time of about 7 minutes. When the Sankei Shimbun and other newspapers reported the abolition, the propeller plane flight, which only had 50 seats, became a “premium ticket” that was difficult to book.

The final flight took off from Minamidaito Airport at around 2:50 p.m. and landed at Kitadaito Airport at around 3:05 p.m.

According to Ryukyu Air Commuter (RAC), which operates the route, it was opened in October 1997 and ran on a route that started from Naha Airport on the main island of Okinawa, passing through the remote islands of Kitadaito Island and Minamidaito Island, and then returning to Naha.

It was called a “triangular flight” because it flew in a triangular pattern, and it flew in the opposite direction depending on the day of the week. The flight time on the timetable was 20 minutes, but when a Sankei Shimbun reporter boarded it in March, the flight lasted just 7 minutes and 20 seconds, and the tires were retracted for exactly 4 minutes.

The aircraft used was a DHC-8-400CC aircraft for mixed cargo and passenger transport. It is a specially designed aircraft for remote island flights, of which there are only five in the world, and the cargo hold space has been expanded to transport fresh food and other items.

From August 1, direct flights will be available between Naha Airport and both the North and South Daito Islands. The number of flights to Minamidaito Island will increase from 1.5 round trips a day to 2, and to Kitadaito Island from 0.5 round trips to 1. However, air travel between the two islands requires a detour of over 700 km, and locals have expressed concern about the impact on tourism.

A representative from RAC said, “It was a tough decision to discontinue the shortest route, but from August 1st onwards, it will become a direct flight and will be easier to use, so we hope that more people will use it than ever before.” (Otake Naoki)