New Dublin Airport Deal To Provide 35 Million Bus Seats For Passengers

Passengers at Dublin Airport will have more bus options available to them than ever before after new permits were issued to allow bus operators to pick up and drop off outside the airport’s two terminals. 

Following a successful tender process for the allocation of bus stops at Dublin Airport, daa has secured commitments from operators that they will deliver a seat for every passenger from 2024 onwards, with more than 35 million bus seats expected to be available by 2025.  Operators have also committed to increase capacity further in subsequent years if demand requires. 

The improvements will kick in from March this year, with more than 1,000 buses per day set to depart from Dublin Airport in 2024 (up from around 900 last year), rising to 1,200 per day in 2025, subject to operator rollout. 

According to Vincent Harrison, Chief Commercial and Development Officer at daa: “The addition of more bus options at Dublin Airport will come as great news to passengers at Dublin Airport, which is already the largest bus interchange in Ireland, with services to all 32 counties on the island. Figures published by the NTA show that the number of car journeys to Dublin Airport fell between 2019 and 2023, and the continued focus on improving attractive public transport links to the airport is one of the reasons for that. The increased frequencies we're announcing today will further that progress over the years ahead." 

Following the successful re-tendering process, Dublin Airport is delighted to once again be partnering with scheduled operators Dublin Express, Aircoach, Citylink, Wexford Bus, Bus Éireann and Expressway and Flightlink, as well as services supported by the National Transport Authority (NTA), who will occupy designated bus stops across the campus from March 2024 onwards. 

The Zone 16 Coach Park at Dublin Airport will continue to cater for scheduled operators, JJ Kavanagh, Dublin Coach, Airport Hopper, John McGinley and M4 Direct.

Better Options For Passengers & Staff 

Currently, around one third (33%) of departing passengers and one third (35%) of the 19,900 people working at Dublin Airport travel to the campus by bus and Dublin Airport sees strong potential to increase both percentages over the coming years. 

These significant improvements to the bus offering at Dublin Airport come after daa recently submitted exciting plans for an improved Ground Transportation Centre as part of its Infrastructure Application to Fingal County Council. The new centre, to be located between the airport's two terminals and close to the space reserved at the airport for a future metro stop, will include toilets, retail outlets, seating and sheltered waiting areas.