Aircoach
Aircoach is a Dublin-based private coach operator and FirstGroup subsidiary providing scheduled airport transfer and intercity bus services across Ireland and Northern Ireland on five routes with up to 217 daily departures, serving airport travelers, intercity commuters, families, students, and event attendees.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1999
- HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Aircoach does
Aircoach is a private Irish coach operator providing airport transfer and intercity bus services across the Republic of Ireland and into Northern Ireland. Founded in 1999 and headquartered in Dublin, Aircoach is a wholly-owned subsidiary of UK-listed transport conglomerate FirstGroup plc, operating as the legal entity Last Passive Limited (company number 300725). The company runs five named scheduled routes: Route 700/700X/702 connecting Dublin Airport to Dublin City Centre and suburbs at peak frequency of every 15 minutes (24/7); Route 704X linking Cork to Dublin with up to 36 daily services; and Route 705X connecting Belfast and Derry/Londonderry to Dublin with 34 and 22 daily services respectively. As of the year ending March 2025, Aircoach ran up to 217 daily departures.
The technology platform centers on a coach booking and tracking system with native iOS and Android mobile applications enabling ticket purchase, QR code generation, real-time GPS-based bus tracking ("Track My Coach"), and a basic loyalty rewards program. Onboard payment infrastructure accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, and contactless cards, with the 704X Cork and 705X Belfast/Derry routes operating cashless-only. A strategic intermodal ticketing integration with Irish Rail ("Train to Plane") allows single bookings for combined rail-coach journeys to Dublin Airport from regional stations.
Aircoach's revenue model is primarily transactional ticket sales across individual travelers, supplemented by Flexibook/Flexibook Plus premium add-ons, group bookings, private coach hire, and an affiliate referral stream bundling tourist attractions (Hop-On Hop-Off, Guinness Storehouse, Cliffs of Moher) through aircoach.dubtours.ie. Customer segments are horizontally diversified across airport travelers, intercity travelers, families (10% family discount), students/young adults (50% Leap Card discount, 20% Young Person fare), event attendees at major Irish venues, and Free Travel Scheme pass holders. Aircoach is licensed by Ireland's National Transport Authority (NTA). For the year ending March 2025, the company reported an operating loss exceeding €6 million despite a 43% expansion in daily service count, requiring a €25 million equity injection from parent FirstGroup plc.
Aircoach firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Aircoach
- Legal name
- Last Passive Limited
- Website
- https://aircoach.ie
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1999
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Aircoach is a Dublin-based private coach operator and FirstGroup subsidiary providing scheduled airport transfer and intercity bus services across Ireland and Northern Ireland on five routes with up to 217 daily departures, serving airport travelers, intercity commuters, families, students, and event attendees.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Aircoach industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Airport and Intercity Coach Transport
- NAICS
- Charter Bus Industry (485510)
- SIC
- Services-Auto Rental & Leasing (No Drivers) (7510)
- akta.pro primary industry
- National Intercity Coach Operators (Scheduled Network) (THAIADAA)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Motorcoach Charter (Private Group Hire) (THAIAIAA)
Keywords
Where Aircoach is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Dublin
- HQ country
- Ireland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Aircoach business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Coach Ticket Sales: One-time ticket purchases for single or return journeys on coach routes between Dublin Airport, Dublin City Centre, Cork, Belfast, and Derry/Londonderry. Revenue generated through online bookings, in-app purchases, and onboard contactless payments.
- Group Bookings and Coach Hire: Discounted group travel on scheduled services and private coach hire for corporate events, school trips, weddings, and other occasions. Custom quotes provided for large groups.
- Flexibook Premium Add-on: Optional add-on purchased at booking enabling flexible date/time changes and refund options for standard tickets
- Partner Attraction Tickets: Aircoach offers bundled tours and experiences to tourist attractions including Hop-On Hop-Off tours, Guinness Storehouse, Cliffs of Moher, Giant's Causeway, and other Ireland attractions through aircoach.dubtours.ie
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Dublin City Centre routes (700/700X/702) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Cork route (704X) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Belfast route (705X) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Derry/Londonderry route (705X) |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Flexibook Add-on |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Flexibook Plus Add-on |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Baggage Fees |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels8 records
Aircoach product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aircoach operates scheduled coach services connecting Dublin Airport with Dublin City Centre, Leopardstown, Dalkey, Cork, Belfast, and Derry/Londonderry via five named routes (700, 700X, 702, 704X, 705X). Tickets are sold per single or return journey through the company website, iOS/Android apps, and onboard contactless payment. The company also offers Flexibook and Flexibook Plus add-ons for flexible changes and refunds, group bookings and private coach hire, Train to Plane integrated ticketing with Irish Rail, and wheelchair-accessible coaches.
Product overview
Aircoach is a subsidiary of FirstGroup plc offering airport transfer and intercity coach services across Ireland. The core offering consists of five named coach routes: Routes 700, 700X, and 702 serving Dublin Airport to Dublin City Centre and suburbs, Route 704X connecting Cork to Dublin, and Route 705X linking Belfast and Derry/L'Derry to Dublin. The product portfolio includes a mobile app for ticketing and journey tracking, add-on services (Flexibook, Flexibook Plus) for booking flexibility, a live bus tracker, wheelchair accessibility accommodations, group bookings and coach hire options, and an Irish Rail partnership for integrated Train to Plane ticketing. All services feature onboard amenities including WiFi, charging points, and reclining seats.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Route 700 — Dublin Airport to Dublin City Centre and Leopardstown Coach Service
- Route 700X — Dublin Airport to Dublin City Centre Express Coach Service
- Route 702 — Dublin Airport to Dalkey via Ballsbridge Coach Service
- Route 704X — Cork to Dublin Express Intercity Coach Service
- Route 705X — Belfast and Derry/Londonderry to Dublin Express Intercity Coach Service
- Flexibook Add-on
- Flexibook Plus Add-on
- Group Bookings and Private Coach Hire
- Train to Plane Integrated Ticketing (with Irish Rail)
- Wheelchair Accessibility Coach Service
Quantifiable outcome
- €6 million operating loss for year ending March 2025 despite expanding services from 152 to 217 daily
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Aircoach
Customer profileSegments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Aircoach technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration3 records
Feature4 records
Aircoach partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- FirstGroup plccoreAircoach is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstGroup plc, one of the UK's and Ireland's largest transport companies. FirstGroup provides capital support (€25 million equity injection in 2024), operational oversight, and strategic direction. During the last year around 2.4 billion people relied on FirstGroup services. Aircoach represents FirstGroup's airport transfer and intercity coach operations in the Republic of Ireland.
- Irish RailcoreAircoach partnered with Irish Rail for Train to Plane ticketing, allowing customers to purchase a single combined ticket for Irish Rail train services to Pearse Station or Drumcondra Station plus Aircoach coach connection to Dublin Airport. This integration simplifies travel planning for passengers coming from stations across Ireland including Sligo, Longford, Mullingar, Wexford and other points.
- National Transport Authority (NTA)coreAircoach is licensed by the National Transport Authority (NTA), the statutory body responsible for the regulation of public transport in Ireland. This licensing provides regulatory standing and consumer protection assurance for Aircoach services.
- Cork Opera HouseminorCork Opera House is an official travel partner of Aircoach, promoting coach services to/from Cork for event attendees. Aircoach 704X service stops near the venue at Lower Glanmire Road.
- Hilton BelfastminorHilton Belfast partnered with Aircoach for the Aircoach x Gerry Lavz GIP Night Out Competition, offering prize packages including return Aircoach travel for two, one night's stay in a Junior Suite at Hilton Belfast with breakfast and executive lounge access.
- TicketmasterminorTicketmaster partnered with Aircoach for promotional competitions, providing £200 vouchers as prize elements in marketing campaigns.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Aircoach competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- FlixBus (Ireland): European budget long-distance coach network now operating cross-border and intercity routes in Ireland, competing on price with Aircoach on the Dublin–Belfast and Dublin–Cork corridors.
- Dublin Express: Newer airport coach service running high-frequency routes between Dublin city and Dublin Airport, directly challenging Aircoach's 700/700X airport corridor.
Direct peers
- Citylink: Operates direct Galway/Cork/University of Limerick to Dublin Airport coach services, competing with Aircoach for Ireland's airport transfer intercity demand.
- Translink (Ulsterbus / Goldline): Northern Ireland's public transport operator running Goldline intercity coaches on the Belfast–Dublin corridor, directly competitive with Aircoach's 705X service.
- JJ Kavanagh & Sons: Private Irish coach operator running intercity services (e.g. Dublin–Cork, Dublin–Clonmel) and private hire, competing head-to-head on intercity corridors Aircoach serves.
- Bus Éireann: State-owned national bus operator running intercity Expressway routes across Ireland including Dublin–Cork and Dublin–Belfast, directly overlapping with Aircoach's 704X and 705X corridors.
- Go-Ahead Ireland: Operates PSO public bus routes in Ireland under contract to the NTA, including some airport-linked services, competing for the same Dublin airport and suburban traveller pool.
- Dublin Bus: Public bus operator serving Dublin city, including airport-related routes (16, 41) that compete with Aircoach's 700/702 services for airport-bound and intra-Dublin travellers.
Broad incumbents
- National Express: UK's largest scheduled coach operator, part of the Mobico Group; comparable in product (airport transfer + intercity) and a sister-brand reference point given FirstGroup's UK coach portfolio.
Others
- Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann): National rail operator and Aircoach's Train to Plane partner; competes on intercity city-to-city travel and is also a key distribution channel via joint ticketing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Aircoach social profiles
Digital presenceAircoach financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Aircoach leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Aircoach funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds1 record
Investors1 record
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Aircoach M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Aircoach
What does Aircoach do?
Aircoach operates scheduled coach services connecting Dublin Airport with Dublin City Centre, Leopardstown, Dalkey, Cork, Belfast, and Derry/Londonderry via five named routes (700, 700X, 702, 704X, 705X). Tickets are sold per single or return journey through the company website, iOS/Android apps, and onboard contactless payment. The company also offers Flexibook and Flexibook Plus add-ons for flexible changes and refunds, group bookings and private coach hire, Train to Plane integrated ticketing with Irish Rail, and wheelchair-accessible coaches.
Is Aircoach a public or private company?
Aircoach is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Aircoach founded?
Aircoach was founded in 1999. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Aircoach based?
Aircoach is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, in the Europe region.
How does Aircoach make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Coach Ticket Sales are the primary driver. The others are group Bookings and Coach Hire, flexibook Premium Add-on and partner Attraction Tickets.
Who are Aircoach's main competitors?
Emerging players on record are FlixBus (Ireland) and Dublin Express. Direct peers are Citylink, Translink (Ulsterbus / Goldline), JJ Kavanagh & Sons, Bus Éireann, Go-Ahead Ireland and Dublin Bus. National Express is listed as a broad incumbent. Irish Rail (Iarnród Éireann) is listed as an others.
Does Aircoach have an API?
No public API is recorded for Aircoach.
What industry is Aircoach in?
Aircoach's product category is Airport and Intercity Coach Transport. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAIADAA, National Intercity Coach Operators (Scheduled Network), with a secondary code of THAIAIAA, Motorcoach Charter (Private Group Hire). Its NAICS code is 485510 and its SIC code is 7510.