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Barcelona to Sofia Flight Distance

Barcelona International Airport (BCN) to Sofia Airport (SOF)

Medium HaulEast-Northeast (78°)Direct flights available
Primary sources · 6
  1. [1] Vincenty (1975)Direct and Inverse Solutions of Geodesics on the Ellipsoid — the iterative formula used for distance · Survey Review XXIII (176), pp. 88–93 · April 1975 https://www.ngs.noaa.gov/PUBS_LIB/inverse.pdf
  2. [2] NGA.STND.0036_1.0.0_WGS84WGS-84 reference ellipsoid (a = 6,378,137 m, 1/f = 298.257223563) · NGA Standard · July 2014 https://earth-info.nga.mil/index.php?dir=wgs84&action=wgs84
  3. [3] DESNZ 2024 conversion factorsPer-km kg CO₂e factors for the three distance bands and four cabin classes · UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero · June 2024 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/greenhouse-gas-reporting-conversion-factors-2024
  4. [4] Lee et al. (2021)Effective radiative forcing of aviation — the science behind the 1.9 × CO₂ → CO₂e uplift · Atmospheric Environment 244, 117834 · January 2021 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2020.117834
  5. [5] OpenFlightsAirport coordinates and IATA codes · openflights.org/data.php · Community-maintained https://openflights.org/data.php
  6. [6] Sack (2010)Jet-lag review — clinical chronobiology and asymmetric recovery rates · New England Journal of Medicine 362:440 · February 2010 https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMcp0909838

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1,100
Miles
1,770
Kilometers
956
Nautical miles
2h 45m
Flight time
Route Distance Scale1,770 km of 18,000 km max
0Short <1,500kmMedium <4,000kmLong <12,000kmUltra-Long

Your Route Summary

BCN
Origin
Barcelona International Airport
Barcelona, Spain
41.2971°, 2.0785°
SOF
Destination
Sofia Airport
Sofia, Bulgaria
42.6967°, 23.4114°

What This Means For Your Trip

Flight Duration: At 1,100 miles, this medium-haul flight will take approximately 2h 45m. Consider bringing a book or downloading entertainment for the journey.

Time Adjustment: Sofia is 1 hour ahead of Barcelona. You should experience minimal jet lag.

Environmental Impact: An economy class seat produces approximately 276 kg of CO2. Consider carbon offset programs if environmental impact is a concern.

Flight Options: 2 airlines serve this route, giving you options for schedule and price comparison.

Complete Flight Analysis

MetricValueCategory / Reference
Distance (Miles)1,100 miPrimary frequent flyer unit
Distance (Kilometers)1,770 kmInternational standard
Distance (Nautical Miles)956 nmAviation standard
Flight Time2h 45mBased on 850 km/h cruise + ground time
Route ClassificationMEDIUM HAULMedium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Flight Direction78° ENEEast-Northeast
Cruising Altitude37,000 ftFL370 (11,278 m)
Time Difference+1hJet lag: none
CO2 (Economy)276 kgDEFRA 2024 factors
CO2 (Business)801 kg2.9x economy
CO2 (First Class)1104 kg4x economy
Trees to Offset25Economy class, per passenger
Fuel per Passenger53 L~9,540 L total (180 pax)
Operating Airlines2Direct flights available

Tips for This Route

Book Early
Book 3-6 weeks ahead for competitive fares on this route.
Best Window Seat
Choose the left side for views with less sun glare on this east-northeast flight.
Adjust Your Clock
Minimal time change—no special preparation needed.
Pack Smart
Short flight—light carry-on with essentials is sufficient.
Offset Your Impact
Consider offsetting 276 kg CO2 through verified programs—equivalent to planting 25 trees.
Compare Prices
Check multiple booking sites and set price alerts for the best fares.
BCN
DEPARTURE

Barcelona International Airport

Barcelona, Spain

IATA / ICAO
BCN / LEBL
Elevation
12 ft (4 m)
Local Time
09:40 PM
GMT+2
Coordinates
41.2971°, 2.0785°
View full airport details
SOF
ARRIVAL+1h from departure

Sofia Airport

Sofia, Bulgaria

IATA / ICAO
SOF / LBSF
Elevation
1,742 ft (531 m)
Local Time
10:40 PM
GMT+3
Coordinates
42.6967°, 23.4114°
View full airport details

Airlines Flying This Route

2 airlines operate flights between Barcelona and Sofia.

FB
Bulgaria Air
Bulgaria
W6
Wizz Air
Hungary

Flight Details

Cruising Altitude
37,000 ft (11,278 m)
FL370
Flight Direction
East-Northeast
Initial bearing: 78°
Route Type
Medium-haul flight (1,500 - 4,000 km)
Typical Aircraft
Airbus A321Boeing 737 MAXAirbus A320neo
Fuel Consumption
53 L per passenger
~9,540 L total (180 passengers)
Geographic Context
Route stays within the Northern Hemisphere
Both airports are in the Northern Hemisphere. Both airports are in the Eastern Hemisphere.

Flight Midpoint

The geographic midpoint of this flight is located at:

Latitude
42° 29' 37.9" N
42.4938°
Longitude
12° 37' 34.6" E
12.6263°
Halfway Point
550 mi
83 min into flight

Carbon Emissions by Cabin Class

CO2 emissions vary by cabin class due to seat space allocation. Based on DEFRA 2024 emission factors.

Economy
276 kg
CO2e: 525 kg
Premium Economy
442 kg
CO2e: 839 kg
Business
801 kg
CO2e: 1521 kg
First Class
1104 kg
CO2e: 2099 kg
Carbon Offset
To offset an economy class seat, plant approximately 25 trees.Equivalent to 0.5 months of average person's carbon footprint

Jet Lag & Travel Tips

Jet Lag Severity
none
Time Zone Change
1 hour forward
Flying eastward
Tips for This Journey
  • Minimal time difference - jet lag unlikely

Seat Recommendations

Best Window for Views
left Side
Sun will be on the right (south) side during daytime
Recommendation
Left window for views away from sun glare, right for warmth

Distance in Perspective

1
4.4% of Earth's circumference
2
217 flights of this distance would reach the Moon
3
Comparable to New York to Miami (1,756 km)
4
1.4 hours at the speed of sound

Distance & Speed Reference

MeasurementValue
Statute Miles1,100 mi
Kilometers1,770 km
Nautical Miles956 nm
Meters1,770,000 m
Feet5,808,000 ft
Flight Time (850 km/h)2h 45m
Driving Time (80 km/h avg)22 hours

Travel Speed Comparison

How long would it take to cover the 1,770 km between Barcelona and Sofia at different speeds?

ModeSpeedTime
Commercial Jet850 km/h2h 45m
Turboprop Aircraft500 km/h3h 32m
Bullet Train320 km/h5h 32m
Car (highway)100 km/h17h 42m
Walking5 km/h354h (15 days)
Speed of Sound1,235 km/h1h 26m

Round Trip Summary

2,200
total miles
3,540
total km
5h 30m
total flight time
552
kg CO2 (economy)
View Return Flight: SOF to BCN

Quick Facts

Distance1,100 mi
Flight Time2h 45m
Route Typemedium haul
DirectionENE
AltitudeFL370
Time Diff+1h
CO2 (Economy)276 kg
Airlines2

Frequently Asked Questions

How far is Barcelona from Sofia?

The flight distance from Barcelona International Airport (BCN) to Sofia Airport (SOF) is 1,100 miles (1,770 km). This is the great circle distance calculated using the Vincenty formula.

How long is the flight?

A direct flight takes approximately 2h 45m. This is a medium-haul flight typically cruising at 37,000 feet (FL370).

What is the time difference?

Sofia is 1 hour ahead of Barcelona.

What airlines fly this route?

2 airlines operate this route: Bulgaria Air, Wizz Air.

What is the carbon footprint?

Economy class: 276 kg CO2 per passenger. Business class: 801 kg. First class: 1104 kg. Offset with ~25 trees.

Which seat side is best?

For this East-Northeast flight, the left side offers the best views away from sun glare.

Can I drive from Barcelona to Sofia instead of flying?

While driving is technically possible at 1,770 km, it would take approximately 22 hours of non-stop driving. Flying saves you significant time, reducing travel to just 2h 45m.

What aircraft typically fly this route?

This medium-haul route is typically served by Airbus A321, Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo aircraft. A mix of narrow-body and wide-body aircraft may operate this route depending on demand.

How can I offset the carbon from this flight?

An economy class seat on this route produces 276 kg CO2. You can offset this by planting approximately 25 trees, purchasing verified carbon credits through programs like Gold Standard or Verra, or supporting renewable energy projects. Many airlines also offer built-in carbon offset options during booking.

External Resources & References

Learn more about the airports, aviation data, and carbon emissions methodology used in this calculation.

Dig deeper on this route