There is something particularly exciting about boarding an airliner with fewer passengers than a typical airport shuttle bus.

Europe still has airlines connecting smaller cities and island communities with aircraft that rarely appear at Heathrow or Gatwick. Some carry fewer than ten passengers. Others offer the chance to experience a classic regional turboprop that has largely disappeared from mainstream airline networks.

These are scheduled passenger services you can buy tickets for, although reaching the departure airport sometimes requires more planning than the flight itself.

The positioning budgets below are editorial planning estimates per person, assuming advance booking, travel outside peak periods and light luggage. They cover return travel to the starting point, with local transfers identified separately. They are not live fare quotations and exclude the featured small-plane flight, accommodation and meals.

Route to consider: Lyon–Milan Malpensa
Aircraft: Beechcraft 1900D

Despite its name, Twin Jet’s fleet consists of Beechcraft 1900D turboprops. The airline lists 13 of these aircraft, making it a particularly useful starting point for anyone seeking a less familiar European flying experience.

Lyon Airport currently lists Milan among Twin Jet’s destinations, while published schedules identify the Beechcraft on the route. This is a chance to cross an international border in an aircraft designed for roughly 19 passengers, rather than simply take a short sightseeing circuit.

The appeal is the aircraft itself: a narrow cabin, prominent propellers and a much more intimate scale than a conventional European short-haul flight.

However, small does not automatically mean cheap. These services also cater for business travellers, so check the Twin Jet fare before committing to flights from the UK.

Getting there from the UK: Lyon is a practical gateway, with easyJet advertising direct services from Gatwick and Luton. Allow approximately £80–£180 return for positioning flights, plus £30–£50 if your itinerary involves travelling between Lyon Airport and the city. A simple out-and-back positioning plan means buying the Twin Jet sectors separately.

An alternative is to fly into Lyon, take Twin Jet to Milan and return to the UK from there. Check the Milan airport carefully: Malpensa, Linate and Bergamo are separate airports, and a cheap departure elsewhere can introduce a lengthy transfer.

Route to consider: Tallinn–Kärdla
Aircraft: Saab 340, subject to the operating schedule

Estonia’s domestic flights offer an appealing combination of a city break and a smaller-aircraft adventure.

NyxAir currently markets flights from Tallinn to Kärdla, the gateway to Hiiumaa. The airport describes the journey as taking around 30 minutes, while recent operating records show NyxAir’s Saab 340 on the route.

The Saab is larger than an Islander or Beechcraft 1900D, but it is still a compact regional turboprop and an increasingly unusual choice for travellers accustomed to Airbus and Boeing jets.

The destination gives the journey a purpose beyond collecting an aircraft type. Rather than immediately turning around, consider allowing time to explore Hiiumaa and experience the island the flight serves.

Getting there from the UK: Allow approximately £100–£200 return for flights to Tallinn, plus £10–£25 for local public transport and airport transfers. Ryanair currently markets London–Tallinn, and recent advertised return options have been around £105–£115 on selected November dates. Those examples indicate the potential cost, rather than guaranteeing availability for a particular domestic connection.

Confirm the aircraft for your intended departure before booking if the Saab is the main reason for travelling.

Route to consider: Zagreb–Osijek, or a coastal sector such as Split–Dubrovnik
Aircraft: Saab 340

Croatia is familiar territory for British holidaymakers, but its smaller domestic services receive considerably less attention.

Trade Air’s published winter timetable includes Zagreb–Osijek alongside routes linking Osijek, Pula, Rijeka, Split and Dubrovnik. The airline describes its domestic operation as using a leased 34-seat Saab 340.

This creates opportunities to include a classic turboprop flight within a wider Croatian trip. Zagreb–Osijek is an obvious starting point, while a coastal sector could fit a holiday involving more than one city.

Read the timetable carefully. Some flight numbers cover multiple sectors, so a service between two cities may involve an intermediate stop. Operating days also matter: this is not a network where every route runs daily.

Older articles recommending Trade Air specifically for the Let L-410 should not be treated as a description of its current domestic fleet.

Getting there from the UK: Zagreb provides a practical starting point. Budget approximately £70–£170 return for positioning flights, plus £15–£35 for airport transport. Ryanair currently sells London Stansted–Zagreb and advertises selected one-way fares below £20, although those headline prices exclude extras and may not align with the domestic service you want.

Price the complete itinerary before booking. A bargain flight into Zagreb offers little saving if it requires several additional hotel nights to meet the regional timetable.

Routes to consider: Oban–Coll, Oban–Colonsay or Oban–Tiree
Aircraft: Britten-Norman Islander

Some of Europe’s smallest scheduled flying experiences are much closer to home.

Hebridean Air Services connects Oban with Coll, Colonsay and Tiree, using Britten-Norman Islanders. These aircraft bring the experience down to a cabin measured in single-digit passenger numbers, with island airfields forming an essential part of the journey.

Oban and the Isles Airports advertises same-day return opportunities, with average flight times of around 30 minutes. However, schedules vary by day and season, so build the trip around the published service rather than assuming a daily departure.

Getting there from elsewhere in the UK: Your starting point makes a substantial difference. As a planning allowance, budget £60–£160 return to Glasgow, followed by approximately £40–£80 return for onward public transport towards Oban. Airport transfers are additional because Oban Airport is at North Connel, outside the town.

For travellers in northern England or Scotland, travelling overland may be simpler than flying. For those coming from further south, an overnight stay can make the itinerary considerably more comfortable.

Route to consider: Glasgow–Barra
Aircraft: DHC-6 Twin Otter

Loganair is a larger operation than the other airlines here, but its Glasgow–Barra service deserves inclusion for the experience it offers.

The route combines a small Twin Otter cabin with an arrival on Barra’s tidal beach runway. Glasgow Airport currently lists the service, while Loganair continues to sell the route directly.

This is an especially appealing option for anyone who wants the destination and landing to be as memorable as the aircraft.

Getting there from elsewhere in the UK: Allow approximately £60–£160 return to reach Glasgow, with airport transport additional where required. The Barra flight is a separate cost: recent fare-search pages have shown one-way examples around £90–£180, so budgeting several hundred pounds for the return island flight is more realistic than expecting a low-cost airline fare. Availability and travel dates can push that higher.

Accommodation should also be checked before buying flights, particularly if your preferred itinerary requires a night on the island.

Start with the unusual flight, then arrange the positioning journey around it. Check the operating airline, aircraft, baggage allowance and whether the service runs on your chosen day.

On separate tickets, allow enough time between flights to absorb disruption. An overnight stop before the small-plane departure often makes more sense than relying on a tight connection.

Finally, look beyond the headline airfare. A sensible budget includes airport transfers, any necessary accommodation and the journey home from wherever the regional flight finishes.

Twin Jet is a strong choice for an unusual aircraft, NyxAir makes an appealing addition to a Tallinn break, and Trade Air offers a different way to explore Croatia.

For a truly tiny cabin, Hebridean Air Services is difficult to overlook. For an arrival that becomes the main event, Barra remains particularly special.

The best trip is one where the aircraft and destination both appeal. That way, a short regional flight becomes part of a worthwhile journey, even if the operating aircraft changes.