Aircoach

Infobox Bus transit
name = Aircoach

logo_size = 240


image_size =
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company_slogan = Travel in Luxury
parent =
founded = 1999
headquarters = Airport Business Park, Dublin Airport
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service_area =
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routes =
destinations = Dublin Airport Belfast Cork Dublin
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hubs =
stations =
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ridership =
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operator = FirstGroup
website = [http://www.aircoach.ie/ aircoach.ie]

Aircoach is a Republic of Ireland based subsidiary company of the United Kingdom based FirstGroup. It provides airport bus express coach services from Belfast, Cork and Dublin to Dublin Airport. It also operates contracted bus service for airport car parks.cite web | url = http://www.aircoach.ie/airport.bus.coach.routes.php | title = Bus Transport Routes to Dublin Airport | publisher = Aircoach | accessdate = 2008-05-20] cite web | url = http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/our_company/aircoach.php | title = Aircoach | publisher = FirstGroup | accessdate = 2008-05-20] and other private hire contracts in the Dublin area.

History

Aircoach was formed in 1999 by John O'Sullivan a former Bus Eireann employee. O'Sullivan sold 90% of the company to UK transport company FirstGroup in 2003 for €15M cite web | url = http://www.aircoach.ie/news.article.php?ID=8 | title = Aircoach Announces €15m Euro Deal | publisher = Aircoach | accessdate = 2003-11-07] before selling the remaining 10% for €1.5M in 2005. As a result Aircoach is now 100% owned by FirstGroup.

ervices Operated

Aircoach currently operates five scheduled coach services in Ireland these are:
* Sandyford/Lepoardstown - Dublin City Centre - Dublin Airport
* Donnybrook/Ballsbridge - Dublin City Centre - Dublin Airport
* Greystones - Bray - Blackrock - Dublin Port Tunnel - Dublin Airport
* Belfast - Hillsborough - Banbridge - Newry - Dundalk - Drogheda - Dublin Airport
* Cork - Portlaoise - Dublin City Centre

In addition to their scheduled services, Aircoach also operates shuttle bus services at Dublin and Belfast Airport along with contracts for the Mater Private Hospital and Phoenix Park.

Fleet

Most Aircoach services are operated by a fleet of 31 Setra 415HD coaches featuring reclining leather seats with extended legroom in a full climate-controlled environment. A foot-rest, folding tray and reading light is also provided at each seat

In addition to the Setra 415HD's, Aircoach also uses 3 Scania Irizar Century coaches which were transfered from the Manchester division of FirstGroup in the UK in 2007. These are mostly used on the Cork and Belfast services which are also supplemented by a Setra 315 and a Plaxton Panther.

The car park shuttles at Belfast and Dublin Airport are operated by a mixture of Rigid and articulated Mercedes Benz Citaro buses.

Aircoach in the UK

FirstGroup have announced the intention to use the Aircoach model and brand to introduce new services in the United Kingdom, although these services will be operated by other companies within the group. First York launched "York Aircoach", a similar service between York and Leeds Bradford International Airport.cite web | url = http://www.firstgroup.com/corporate/our_company/aircoach.php | title = Aircoach | publisher = FirstGroup | accessdate = 2008-05-20] whilst First Essex have just launched "Stansted Aircoach", a service between Southend, Chelmsford and Stansted Airport. cite web | url = http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southeast/essex/x30/index.php | title = Stansted Aircoach X30 | publisher = FirstGroup | accessdate = 2008-08-11]

ee also

* List of bus operators of the United Kingdom

References

External links

* [http://www.aircoach.ie/ Aircoach Homepage]
* [http://www.firstgroup.com/ FirstGroup Homepage]
* [http://www.yorkaircoach.com/ York Aircoach web site]