Bucharest to London is 1,292 miles (2,080 km), a flight of about 3 hours 15 minutes.
Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over the cruise, the left side also tracks closer to the Rhine valley and Belgian lowlands, offering occasional glimpses of river systems and city grids on clear days. Right side is mostly open sky or featureless North Sea approaches.
Flight Path
The route crosses Transylvania briefly before tracking over Hungary's Great Plain (Puszta), then over Austria and southern Germany near Vienna and Munich, crossing into France over Alsace or Lorraine, then over Belgium and northern France before crossing the English Channel near Calais-Dover and tracking over Kent and Surrey into Gatwick.
Great circle distance and headings ›.jpg?width=600)
.jpeg?width=600)
Phase by phase
Takeoff from OTP
LEFTOTP typically departs northwest on runway 08R/26L or northeast on 08L/26R. On a westbound departure toward London, aircraft turn northwest, putting Bucharest city center and the Snagov lake area on the left side. The Carpathian foothills become visible to the north-left as you climb out.
Landing at LGW
LEFTGatwick predominantly uses runway 26L/08R. On approach from the east or southeast, aircraft track over the Surrey and Sussex countryside. A left seat gives views over the North Downs, the M23 corridor, and Crawley town directly below on final approach, with the London skyline visible to the north on clear days.
Landmarks on this routeAll landmarks →
Will your flight be in sunlight?
Pick a date and time in the Sun Map to watch the sun move across your whole flight.
About This Route
Which side of the plane should I sit on flying from Otopeni (OTP) to Gatwick (LGW)?
Sit on the Left side of the plane for the best views on flights from Bucharest to London. Left side wins at both ends of the flight. Over the cruise, the left side also tracks closer to the Rhine valley and Belgian lowlands, offering occasional glimpses of river systems and city grids on clear days. Right side is mostly open sky or featureless North Sea approaches.
What can I see during takeoff from Otopeni in Bucharest?
During takeoff from Otopeni (OTP), sit on the Left side for the best views. OTP typically departs northwest on runway 08R/26L or northeast on 08L/26R. On a westbound departure toward London, aircraft turn northwest, putting Bucharest city center and the Snagov lake area on the left side. The Carpathian foothills become visible to the north-left as you climb out. Notable sights include: Bucharest city center and Palace of Parliament district, Snagov Lake to the north, Ilfov plain patchwork farmland, Carpathian foothills on the northern horizon.
What can I see when landing at Gatwick in London?
When landing at Gatwick (LGW), sit on the Left side for the best views. Gatwick predominantly uses runway 26L/08R. On approach from the east or southeast, aircraft track over the Surrey and Sussex countryside. A left seat gives views over the North Downs, the M23 corridor, and Crawley town directly below on final approach, with the London skyline visible to the north on clear days. Notable sights include: North Downs ridge in Surrey, Crawley town below on final approach, M23 motorway corridor, London skyline on the northern horizon on clear days.
How long is the flight from Bucharest to London?
The flight from Otopeni (OTP) to Gatwick (LGW) takes about 3 hours 15 minutes. The shortest flight path between them is 1,292 miles (2,080 km); winds and air traffic control usually add a few percent.
What does the Bucharest to London flight path pass over?
The route crosses Transylvania briefly before tracking over Hungary's Great Plain (Puszta), then over Austria and southern Germany near Vienna and Munich, crossing into France over Alsace or Lorraine, then over Belgium and northern France before crossing the English Channel near Calais-Dover and tracking over Kent and Surrey into Gatwick.