Aircoach

Last updated

Aircoach
First Aircoach, Volvo B12B Jonkheere SHV (08-D-70461) (8203458828).jpg
Aircoach bus in Dublin
Parent FirstGroup [1]
Founded1999
Headquarters Dublin
Routes5
Destinations Dublin Airport
Cork
Dublin
Leopardstown
Greystones
Belfast
Killiney
Derry
Belfast International
Hubs Cork, Belfast, Dublin, Derry
Fleet83
Managing Director Kim Swann
Website www.aircoach.ie

Aircoach is an Ireland-based subsidiary company of FirstGroup. It provides airport express coach services from Cork, Belfast, Derry, Greystones, Bray, Southside Dublin and Dublin to Dublin Airport and from Derry to Belfast International Airport.

Contents

It also operates car park and staff shuttles for Dublin Airport [2] and other private hire contracts in the Dublin area, including services for Leinster Rugby and the Football Association of Ireland. [3]

History

Aircoach was formed in 1999 by John O'Sullivan, a former Bus Éireann employee. O'Sullivan sold 90% of the company to FirstGroup in 2003 for €15 million [4] before selling the remaining 10% for €1.5 million to FirstGroup in 2005.

Aircoach was awarded the Overall Logistics and Transport Excellence Award at the 2011 Irish Logistics and Transport Awards. [5] The company was also named Irish Inter-City coach operator of the year at the 2014 Fleet Bus and Coach awards, [6] and Airport coach operator of the year in 2020.[ citation needed ]

In addition to its scheduled services, Aircoach also operates shuttle bus services at Dublin Airport along with contract services and is the 'official coach supplier' to the Leinster Rugby team [7] and the Football Association of Ireland. [3]

In October 2022, Aircoach acquired the Derry-based transport company Airporter. [1] The Airporter, which provided a shuttle service between Derry and Belfast International and Belfast City Airports, [8] announced in 2009 that its fleet would provide the first free wifi service on-board any coach fleet in Northern Ireland. [9] Following the acquisition of Airporter, Aircoach expanded its reach to service Belfast International Airport and Derry in January 2023. [10]

Routes

Current Routes, as of 30th June 2024 [11]
RouteOriginTerminusNotes
700 Cherrywood Dublin Airport Via Leopardstown, Stillorgan, UCD, Donnybrook, Leeson St, O'Connell St, and Drumcondra
701 Ballsbridge (St. Vincent's Hospital) Dublin Airport Via Merrion Sq, O'Connell St, and Drumcondra
702 Greystones Dublin Airport Via Bray, Shankill, Loughlinstown, Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire, Blackrock, Ballsbridge & Port Tunnel
704X Cork (Lower Glanmire Road) Dublin Airport Via Dublin City (Bachelor's Walk / Aston Quay)
705X O'Connell Street Derry (Foyleside Coach Park)Via Dublin Airport, Belfast (Glengall St), and Belfast International Airport

Former services

The first Aircoach route, the 701 Ballsbridge to Dublin Airport, was suspended after 14 years of operation in April 2013. Many of the stops on this service continue to be served by the 700 Leopardstown route, with the stops unique to the Ballsbridge service being amalgamated into the 702 Greystones and 703 Killiney/Dalkey routes.

A service from Ballinteer to Dublin Airport ran from April 2011 until December 2012, whilst the company also previously ran stopping commuter services to Belfast (2004-2010), Cork (2004-2012) and Portlaoise (2004-2006) to/from Dublin City and Dublin Airport.

Service 706/706x from Galway to Dublin City and Dublin Airport via Ballinasloe, Athlone and Maynooth commenced in July 2021 following the cancellation of Bus Éireann service X20. [12] However the service was withdrawn in April 2024 with the company stating they were unable to make the 706/706x commercially viable. [13]

On the 30th of June 2024, Route 703 was scrapped, with the service being amalgamated into Route 702. Route 700 was extended to Cherrywood from Leopardstown as a result. Route 702 now largely follows the old 703 route to Dalkey, while prior to this, it operated along the N11 from Booterstown. Route 701 was reintroduced on the same day. [14]

The Phoenix Park shuttle ran from May 2008 until January 2010 using East Lancs Myllennium buses which were powered by LPG.[ citation needed ]

Fleet

The coach fleet consists of 52 Plaxton Panther bodied Volvo B11R coaches built between 2014 and 2020 and 9 Mercedes-Benz Tourismo vehicles which were delivered in 2023.[ citation needed ]

The bus fleet consists of 17 12.9m Volvo B8RLE MCV Evoras delivered in 2023 and 4 articulated Mercedes-Benz Citaro built in 2008 and a single 2013 Wright StreetLite, all of which are used across the portfolio of Dublin Airport car park and staff shuttles services.

See also

Related Research Articles

Most of the transport system in Ireland is in public hands, either side of the Irish border. The Irish road network has evolved separately in the two jurisdictions into which Ireland is divided, while the Irish rail network was mostly created prior to the partition of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">NI Railways</span> Parastatal rail transport organisation of Northern Ireland (NIR)

NI Railways, also known as Northern Ireland Railways, is the railway operator in Northern Ireland. NIR is a subsidiary of Translink, whose parent company is the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), and is one of eight publicly owned train operators in the United Kingdom, the others being Direct Rail Services, Northern Trains, Transport for Wales Rail, Southeastern, LNER, ScotRail, and TransPennine Express. It has a common Board of Management with the other two companies in the group, Ulsterbus and Metro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bus Éireann</span> Bus and coach operator in Ireland

Bus Éireann is a state-owned bus and coach operator providing services throughout Ireland, with the exception of Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area, where bus services are provided by sister company Dublin Bus. It is a subsidiary of Córas Iompair Éireann (CIÉ). The company's primary hub is Busáras, located in Store Street, Dublin. In 2022 it operated 229 Public Service Obligation Routes, 14 expressway routes and 8940 school transport routes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of rail transport in Ireland</span>

The history of rail transport in Ireland began only a decade later than that of Great Britain. By its peak in 1920, Ireland had 3,500 route miles (5,630 km). The current status is less than half that amount, with a large unserviced area around the border area between Northern Ireland and The Republic of Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Translink (Northern Ireland)</span> Public transport operator in Northern Ireland

Translink is the brand name of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHCo), a public corporation in Northern Ireland which provides the public transport in the region. NI Railways, Ulsterbus and Metro are all part of Translink. It is led by CEO Chris Conway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">City of Derry Airport</span> Airport in Northern Ireland.

City of Derry Airport, previously known as RAF Eglinton and Londonderry Eglinton Airport, is a regional airport located 7 mi (11 km) northeast of Derry, Northern Ireland. It is located on the south bank of Lough Foyle, a short distance from the village of Eglinton and 8 mi (13 km) from the city centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ulsterbus</span> Bus operator in Northern Ireland

Ulsterbus is a public transport operator in Northern Ireland and operates bus services outside Belfast. It is part of Translink, the brand name for the subsidiary operating companies of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company, which also includes Northern Ireland Railways and Metro Belfast.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">First Leicester</span>

Leicester Citybus, trading as First Leicester, is a bus operator providing services in Leicester. FirstGroup own 100% of the company after purchasing Trentbartons 6% shareholding in 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Great Northern Railway (Ireland)</span> Defunct railway company

The Great Northern Railway (Ireland) (GNR(I) or GNRI) was an Irish gauge (1,600 mm (5 ft 3 in)) railway company in Ireland. It was formed in 1876 by a merger of the Irish North Western Railway (INW), Northern Railway of Ireland, and Ulster Railway. The governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland jointly nationalised the company in 1953, and the company was liquidated in 1958: assets were split on national lines between the Ulster Transport Authority and Córas Iompair Éireann.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandymount railway station</span> Railway (DART) station in Dublin, Ireland

Sandymount railway station, also known as Sandymount DART station, serves Sandymount and Ballsbridge in Dublin, Ireland. It has two platforms, both fully accessible via ramps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sydney Parade railway station</span> Railway station in Dublin, Ireland

Sydney Parade Railway Station is located on Sydney Parade Avenue in Dublin 4, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Booterstown railway station</span> Railway station in Dublin, Ireland

Booterstown railway station serves Booterstown in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandycove and Glasthule railway station</span>

Sandycove and Glasthule railway station serves the suburban areas of Sandycove and Glasthule in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dalkey railway station</span> Railway station in Dublin, Ireland

Dalkey railway station is a railway station that serves Dalkey in Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown, Ireland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public transport operators in Dublin</span>

Many companies operate public transport services in Dublin, most of which are state-owned or semi-state-owned.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cornelscourt</span> Suburb of Dublin, Ireland

Cornelscourt is a small suburban area within the traditional County Dublin, now in the jurisdiction of Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown. Situated between Cabinteely, Carrickmines and Foxrock, it is a primarily residential area, but is perhaps best known for being the site of Ireland's first big-box store, a branch of Dunnes Stores, and the country's first drive-through bank.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bray Daly railway station</span> Railway station in Bray, Ireland

Bray (Daly) Railway Station is a station in Bray in County Wicklow, Ireland. It is located adjacent to Bray seafront and is 600 m from Bray Main Street via Florence Road or Quinsborough Road.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Public transport in Ireland</span>

Public transport in Ireland exists in many of the Ireland's urban areas and rural areas, and takes a number of forms. Bus transport is the main form of public transport and is common in all cities. The cities, Dublin, Belfast, Cork, Limerick and Galway all have their own suburban rail networks, although Dublin is the only to have its own tram line, in the form of the Luas. Ireland has a population of 5 million people.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Belfast Great Victoria Street railway station</span> Railway station in Belfast

Great Victoria Street was a railway station that served the city centre of Belfast, Northern Ireland. It was one of two main stations in the city, along with Lanyon Place, and was nearest to the city centre. The station was situated beside Great Victoria Street and shared a site with the Europa Buscentre, Belfast's main bus station. The railway and bus stations will be replaced by the adjacent Belfast Grand Central station later in 2024. Great Victoria Street railway station closed permanently on 10 May 2024, several months before its replacement was due to open.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">MCV Evora</span> Low-floor bus bodywork on Volvo B8RLE and B5LH chassis

The MCV Evora is a single-decker bus bodywork produced by Manufacturing Commercial Vehicles (MCV) since 2018, as the successor to the MCV Evolution. The Evora is currently available on Volvo B8RLE and Volvo B5LH chassis.

References

  1. 1 2 "Dublin transport firm Aircoach buys Derry-based Airporter". BBC News. 26 October 2022.
  2. "Bus Transport Routes to Dublin Airport". Aircoach. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 20 May 2008.
  3. 1 2 "Aircoach's iconic blue bus turns green as FAI & Aircoach Announce Partnership | Aircoach". www.aircoach.ie. Archived from the original on 24 January 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  4. "Aircoach Announces €15m Euro Deal". Aircoach. Archived from the original on 18 November 2007. Retrieved 7 November 2003.
  5. "The irish Logistics & Transport Awards 2011". Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport Ireland. Archived from the original on 22 March 2012. Retrieved 17 April 2011.
  6. "WINNERS ALL AT THE FLEET BUS & COACH AWARDS 2014". Fleet Transport. Archived from the original on 30 October 2013. Retrieved 29 October 2013.
  7. "Aircoach - Proud Supporters of Leinster Rugby". Aircoach. Archived from the original on 5 May 2009. Retrieved 29 June 2009.
  8. "Airporter | Derry~Londonderry Bus To & From The Belfast Airports". Airporter.co.uk. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  9. "Transport Minister Launches First On Board Wi-fi Service On Public Transport". Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  10. "Derry/Londonderry Service". aircoach.ie. Aircoach. Archived from the original on 30 November 2023. Airporter is now Aircoach [..] Our new Derry/Londonderry service is up and running from January 22nd [2023] [..] Following the acquisition of Airporter
  11. "Dublin Airport Bus Service Timetables | Routes & Timetables | Aircoach". www.aircoach.ie. 11 March 2024. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  12. "Galway Public Transport News" . Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  13. "Aircoach to cease services to Dublin Airport from local stops". Shannonside.ie. Retrieved 9 April 2024.
  14. "More Aircoach Services For Greystones To Dublin Airport". East Coast FM. Retrieved 9 August 2024.