New link from Cork city to Dublin airport

CORK city will be served with a new coach link to Dublin airport before the end of the month, after Aircoach announced plans yesterday to extend its airport shuttle service outside Dublin city.

Aircoach chief executive John O'Sullivan said the company's new service from the airport to Portlaoise, which starts today, would be the first in a series of new routes planned by the private coach operator.

The company already operates routes linking the airport with Dublin's Ballsbridge and Leopardstown and recorded turnover of €7.2 million last year, generating profits of €1.28 million.

Mr O'Sullivan said Portlaoise had been chosen for the company's first long-distance route because it lay on the M7/M8 motorway route linking Dublin with Cork and Limerick, which he described as "the busiest in the country".

The route enjoyed a strong catchment area from a number of towns in the greater Dublin area with growing populations, he said.

The new route will also pick up passengers from Monasterevan, Kildare, Newbridge and Naas and will bypass Dublin city centre traffic by joining the M50 at the Red Cow roundabout in the south-west of the city. Passengers will pay flat rates of €15 for a one-way trip and €20 for a return journey.

Aircoach will launch a dedicated service from Cork to the centre of Dublin later this month. The service will be linked with the Portlaoise route to allow Cork passengers travelling to the airport to switch at Portlaoise.

Aircoach's expansion comes after Aberdeen-based coach operator First Group bought a 90% stake in the business for €15 million last November.

Mr O'Sullivan, a former engineer with Bus Eireann who founded Aircoach in 1999, retains a 10% stake in the company. The company also competes with Aer Rianta by operating a long-term car park at Dublin airport that undercuts Aer Rianta's rates by 33%.

Aircoach employs 120 people and invested in four new coaches and 10 new drivers to service the new Portlaoise route.