Airline launches 12-minute flight from Toronto to Niagara: the world's shortest flight?

There's no drinks service or in-flight entertainment system, but passengers on board the newest Greater Toronto Airways service won't have time to get bored. That's because its Toronto to Niagara route, which will whisk travellers from the Ontario metropolis to the home of North America's most famous waterfalls from September 15, will take just 12 minutes.

A ticket will cost from CA$85 (£50) one-way, however, or $159 (£95) return, for the brief flight between Toronto's Billy Bishop Airport and Niagara District Airport. That works out as roughly £4 per minute in the air.

Travelling by road, the 115km drive between Toronto and Niagara – around the edges of Lake Ontario – is at least an hour-long drive in good traffic, but it is often gridlocked. ViaRail offers a 90-minute train trip between the cities, from CA$39 (£23) one-way.

See also: World's longest flight routes

But from September, commuters and holidaymakers can hop on board the eight-seater planes twice a day from Monday to Friday, all year round.

The flight passes over Lake Ontario, with views over the border into the USA – and for some, 12 minutes isn't long enough to enjoy the spectacle. The test flight at last week's launch took 14 minutes and 45 seconds, said David Nissan, vice-president of operations at Greater Toronto Airways. "We did go a little slower today, just to enjoy the scenery on the way," he explained.

There are no lengthy check-in queues either: passengers only need to arrive 15 minutes before take-off, and for Canadian travellers no passports are needed – only photo ID cards, which are issued to all Canadian citizens. "Random" security checks will be carried out on board.

"It's going to be big," said Niagara Falls Mayor Jim Diodati of the launch. "People are always asking, 'Is there a quicker way?' We've been trying for years to attract a flight partner."