First Group invests €15m in Aircoach

Britain’s largest bus operator First Group plc is to invest €15m in Irish operator Aircoach.

The investment is expected to help Aircoach in its push to gain a share of the proposed liberalisation of the Irish bus market.

Commenting on the deal, John O'Sullivan, Managing Director of Aircoach said: "This significant development will allow us to adopt a more aggressive approach towards improving public transport in Ireland."

Leon Daniels, Divisional Director of First Group plc said: "The positive direction taken by the Department of Transport towards the introduction of competition in road passenger transport services attracted First Group to look at the Irish market.

"Aircoach provides an ideal platform from which to build optimised transport solutions," he added.

The Airport-based coach company began the first privately-owned licensed passenger service four years ago connecting Dublin Airport with the city centre and southern suburbs. It now provides 150 round trips daily from Dublin Airport.

More recently, it has extended its service to Sandyford in South Dublin and also won the Aer Rianta contract to transfer passengers from the long-term car parks to the terminal building at Dublin airport.