The route is flown by Loganair, a Scottish regional airline that serves Scotland's Highlands and islands.
[2][3][4] The total distance covered by the flights is 1.7 miles (2.7 km), which is about the same length as the runway at Edinburgh Airport.
[5] Many students and their teachers take these flights to study the 60 archaeological sites on Papa Westray, making up the majority of passengers.
Loganair's chief executive, Jim Cameron, described the Islander as "robust" and "well suited to the vagaries of Scottish weather".
[8] Summarizing expert opinion of the Islander, Alastair Dalton of The Scotsman said the aircraft "had a good safety record and had proved versatile in operating from the shortest and roughest Highland runways".
The flight times and numbers change daily and repeat with a weekly cycle.
On Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, the flight number to Papa Westray is 709.