Flight Path: Manchester (MAN) to Varna (VAR) – Countries Overflown

A typical commercial flight from Manchester, UK (MAN) to Varna, Bulgaria (VAR) follows a southeasterly great-circle route of ~1,550 miles (2,500 km), crossing 9–10 countries in ~3.5 hours. The exact path varies daily based on winds, air traffic control (ATC) constraints, and geopolitical airspace restrictions.

Typical Overflight Sequence

1. United Kingdom: Depart MAN, track southeast over Peak District, East Midlands, East Anglia.
2. North Sea: Cross into Dutch FIR (Flight Information Region).
3. Netherlands: Overfly Rotterdam, Amsterdam FIR.
4. Germany: Enter German airspace—Hanover, Berlin, Dresden regions.
5. Czech Republic: Overfly Prague, Brno.
6. Austria (sometimes): Southern routing may clip Vienna FIR.
7. Slovakia: Bratislava, Košice.
8. Hungary: Budapest, Debrecen.
9. Romania: Cluj-Napoca, Bucharest FIR.
10. Bulgaria: Enter Bulgarian airspace, descend to Varna (VAR) on the Black Sea coast.

Operational Notes

• Ireland is NOT typically overflown on this route—Manchester departures to SE Europe usually turn east over northern England, not west over Ireland.
• Ukraine airspace has been closed to civil aviation since Feb 2022; routes avoid it entirely.
• Alternative southern routing (via France, Switzerland, Italy, Balkans) may be used for weather/ATC reasons.
• Flight time: ~3h 15m–3h 45m block time; tailwinds can shorten eastbound legs.

Major carriers on this route include Wizz Air, Ryanair (seasonal), TUI Airways, and charter operators. Always check your specific flight's planned route on FlightRadar24 or similar on the day of travel.