Why are the bus services for Shannon Airport so awful?

Croppy Bhoy

It's almost as if Bus Éireann don't actually realise people would be going there to catch flights.

For example the only AerLingus flight to Gatwick is at 9am (which would require you to be there for about 8am). The earliest bus arriving in from Galway is at 8.50am. Now this is hardly that obscure of a route - not as if I'm trying to get from Cavan to Sligo to catch a flight to Istanbul or anything.

Ryanair's only flight is at 10.10 meaning it is just about possible to get there in time (god help you if you miss that bus!).

n97 mini

Not being smart, but it you're going from Galway to Gatwick and reliant on public transport, you have loads of options if you fly out of Dublin.

Vote with your feet. Maybe someone will get the message.

Croppy Bhoy

n97 mini wrote: »

Not being smart, but it you're going from Galway to Gatwick and reliant on public transport, you have loads of options if you fly out of Dublin.

Vote with your feet. Maybe someone will get the message.

But I have to fly from Shannon, hence the thread.

n97 mini

Ok, to answer your question: I'd say they're awful cos almost everyone drives to Shannon airport. The parking is good, and unlike in Dublin you can't easily go about your day to day business in the West of Ireland without a car, so most people have one.

nobody3

Croppy Bhoy wrote: »

It's almost as if Bus Éireann don't actually realise people would be going there to catch flights.

For example the only AerLingus flight to Gatwick is at 9am (which would require you to be there for about 8am). The earliest bus arriving in from Galway is at 8.50am. Now this is hardly that obscure of a route - not as if I'm trying to get from Cavan to Sligo to catch a flight to Istanbul or anything.

Ryanair's only flight is at 10.10 meaning it is just about possible to get there in time (god help you if you miss that bus!).

Because the DAA and the government want you to fly from Dublin.

Have you checked out some of the other bus companies?

Galway bus have a service, its an early start, but at least you'll be there for the 08:00 flight!!

Croppy Bhoy

Is there a reason why CityLink don't consider Shannon a worthwhile stop? They go from Galway to Limerick but bypass a major national airport :S

nobody3

Croppy Bhoy wrote: »

Is there a reason why CityLink don't consider Shannon a worthwhile stop? They go from Galway to Limerick but bypass a major national airport :S

Apart from the reason in my previous post?

There is no coordinated transport policy in this country. No cooperation on timetables between buses/trains/planes. If the government wanted a Green policy it would be one where these state, or state managed companies had common goals to make it simpler for people to get to their destinations without the hassle they currently face. :mad:

LXFlyer

nobody3 wrote: »

Because the DAA and the government want you to fly from Dublin.

Have you checked out some of the other bus companies?

Galway bus have a service, its an early start, but at least you'll be there for the 08:00 flight!!

That site is LONG out of date. Those times were the old Citylink Galway-Shannon services that ceased due to lack of patronage.

OP the reality is there were and are insufficient numbers travelling between Galway and Shannon.

As for saying you "have to" fly from Shannon, would it not have made more sense to check your transport options before booking your flight? Both Gobus and Citylink have services that get into Dublin Airport with plenty of time to spare for all services to Gatwick.

nobody3

lxflyer wrote: »

That site is LONG out of date. Those times were the old Citylink Galway-Shannon services that ceased due to lack of patronage.

Would be helpful if they removed their old pages when they update their site.

Shame they don't do that run at a time to connect with flights, I'd use it. Its probably the reason it didn't get any support, arrive 3 hours too early, or 1 hour too late! Sound like a great way to encourage customers.

LXFlyer

nobody3 wrote: »

Would be helpful if they removed their old pages when they update their site.

Shame they don't do that run at a time to connect with flights, I'd use it. Its probably the reason it didn't get any support, arrive 3 hours too early, or 1 hour too late! Sound like a great way to encourage customers.

That website has nothing to do with Citylink - it is an independent party.

You might use that bus route but obviously very few others did as it was withdrawn.

munchkin_utd

Croppy Bhoy wrote: »

But I have to fly from Shannon, hence the thread.

The first bus from Limerick to Shannon is at 5 or so in the morning.
So simply stay there overnight.
A hostel is only 23 euro.

I have lived for manys a year without a car. You need to be inventive with your arrangements and just accept that public transport is not a virtual 24 hour a day taxi service to serve every niche need!

SandyfordGuy

Why do you have to fly from Shannon?

Lapin

n97 mini wrote: »

Not being smart, but it you're going from Galway to Gatwick and reliant on public transport, you have loads of options if you fly out of Dublin.

Vote with your feet. Maybe someone will get the message.

They only message they'll get is that there is no demand for such a service to Shannon if everyone votes for their feet and uses Dublin instead.

OP is right to highlight the crap service to Shannon. Its ridiculous that public transport is so accessible to an airport on the other side of the country, yet impossible to connect with a flight from an airport a hour down the road.

LXFlyer

Well then why did Citylink withdraw their service?

If lots of people were using the early morning service it would still be there. They patently were not.

n97 mini

Lapin wrote: »

They only message they'll get is that there is no demand for such a service to Shannon if everyone votes for their feet and uses Dublin instead.

Maybe Shannon Airport itself isn't viable? I don't know, but is it funding itself or is it relying on subsidies from Dublin?

highlydebased

n97 mini wrote: »

Maybe Shannon Airport itself isn't viable? I don't know, but is it funding itself or is it relying on subsidies from Dublin?

Cork airport receives similar subsidies

OP, Fly to another London airport and get a train to wherever you need to go?

n97 mini

Neon-Circles wrote: »

Cork airport receives similar subsidies

OP, Fly to another London airport and get a train to wherever you need to go?

Really? So Dublin Airport is the only one that can stand on its own two feet?

With the motorway network as good as it is, do we need to be subsidising loss-making airports, in turn making Dublin Airport less competitive as its paying?

Innisfallen

n97 mini wrote: »

Really? So Dublin Airport is the only one that can stand on its own two feet?

DAA Dublin (which is really just Aer Rianta) is more than one airport, they also run a chain of duty-free shops abroad, and a 20 per cent stake in Dusseldorf...