SOF
Sofia
LHR
London
Sofia to London
Flight Compensation
Sofia to London — Air Bulgaria's UK flagship.
SOF–LHR connects Sofia with London Heathrow, operated by Air Bulgaria and British Airways. This route serves both business travellers and the Bulgarian diaspora in the UK. EC261 applies with up to €400 compensation.
€400
Max compensation (EC261 tier 2)
2,680 km
Route distance
4h 05m
Scheduled flight time
Max Compensation
€400
per passenger · SOF departures
1,500–3,500 km · Medium-haul
Average processing: 45 days
Free check · 5 years limit · No fee unless we win
01Route Intelligence
SOF–LHR is a busy diaspora and business route. Average delay 42 minutes.
Our Success Rate
71%
on SOF–LHR claims
Average Payout
€360
per passenger
Peak Disruption Periods
June – August
Bulgarian summer peak, diaspora travel
December – January
Holiday peak
Key Legal Nuance on This Route
What Makes SOF–LHR Claims Different
EC261 applies to SOF departures. Bulgarian law has a 5-year limitation period.
02Airlines on This Route
Who operates SOF–LHR, their delay record, and how they resist claims.
Air Bulgaria
FBAvg Delay
42min
Claim Success
71%
How FB Resists Claims on This Route
Air Bulgaria cites LHR slot restrictions — foreseeable on a scheduled route.
03Disruption Causes & Legal Status
What actually causes delays on SOF–LHR — and whether each is extraordinary under EC261.
LHR Slot Restrictions
~30% of delays
Heathrow capacity management causes ground delays.
NATS flow control is foreseeable. Claim valid.
04How We Handle SOF–LHR Claims
You submit your flight details
2 minutes. Flight number, date, and what happened. We identify the operating carrier automatically — critical for codeshare routes.
We verify the SOF–LHR specific cause
File with Air Bulgaria citing EC261. Bulgarian 5-year limitation period applies.
Submission, escalation, and payment
Escalate to CAA Bulgaria if rejected.
05EC261 on SOF–LHR
EC261 applies because SOF is a EU airport
Your departure airport (SOF, Sofia) is in Bulgaria. EC261 covers all flights departing EU airports, regardless of airline nationality or destination. The fact that your destination (LHR, London) is in United Kingdom does not change the applicable regulation.
Enforcement Body
CAA Bulgaria (Главна дирекция Гражданска въздухоплавателна администрация)
Claim Time Limit
5 years from flight date
06Frequently Asked Questions
Real questions from passengers who flew SOF–LHR.
Does EC261 apply on Air Bulgaria SOF–LHR flights?
Yes. EC261 applies to all flights departing from EU airports. Air Bulgaria is an EU carrier. You're entitled to €400 for delays of 3+ hours.
Ready to Claim?
Start Your SOF → LHR Claim
No win, no fee. We verify the exact delay cause, identify the operating carrier, and submit directly to CAA Bulgaria (Главна дирекция Гражданска въздухоплавателна администрация) if needed.