Cheap flights from London to Cotonou

Two calendars drive demand on this route. Benin's dry season, running from late autumn into early spring, is when most travellers head to Cotonou, while London school holidays and the Christmas break lift fares from the other side. October is the cheapest month to fly, and the price calendar covers September through February plus April — the remaining months have no prices listed yet. Midweek departures often cost less than weekend ones, and December around the holidays rewards booking early.

What the fare includes is the first split on this route. Easyjet runs on low-cost rules: a seat and a small cabin bag in the base price, with checked luggage, seat choice and food as paid extras. The full-service names — Air France, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Turkish Airlines, Swiss, Brussels Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Edelweiss Air and Helvetic Airways — usually fold a checked bag and a meal into the fare, though mixed tickets can carry different limits on different legs. Every itinerary connects, so check the whole trip sits on one ticket; if it does not, a missed connection is yours to fix.

Getting into town is the easy part: Cadjehoun sits close to central Cotonou, so the transfer is a short drive rather than a long haul, and most arrivals handle it with a taxi. Agree the fare before you get in, keep some cash in small notes for the driver, and expect the last stretch to slow in morning and late-afternoon traffic. Inside the terminal, allow time for passport control, have your accommodation address to hand, and sort out West African CFA francs early — it makes the first hours easier. If your flight lands late, ask your hotel about a pickup instead of negotiating outside.

Currency

XOF (F)

Power sockets

Type C, E · 220 V

Language

French

Emergency number

112, 117, 118

Driving side

right

Calling code

+229

Internet domain

.bj

Population of Cotonou

780 k (2025)

Time zone

UTC+01 (Africa/Porto-Novo)

Country facts: Wikidata

• Check what the fare includes before you pay: checked baggage is an extra on low-cost tickets, usually included on full-service ones.
• Confirm which London airport you leave from, since Heathrow, Gatwick, City, Luton and Stansted all serve this route and sit far apart.
• Keep the connection on a single ticket so the airline rebooks you if the first leg runs late.
• Check Benin's entry rules for your passport, including whether a visa needs arranging before departure.
• Compare October with the months around it in the price calendar; it is the cheapest month here and December fills up early.
• Agree the taxi fare into Cotonou before you set off, or ask your hotel to meet the flight.