The airport hopper bus services between Maynooth and Tallaght and Dublin Airport have ceased due to financial difficulties, the operator has confirmed.
Airport Hopper Holdings Ltd told RTÉ News it had to “pause operations” from 10 February, due to the service being “financially unsustainable for a long period of time with passenger numbers on the routes not being sufficient to make the service viable”.
The company said it “tried everything in its power to make the service viable, including cutting fares to increase numbers, but that “in an environment of spiralling costs including fuelling, tolls, insurance and airport charges,” it took the decision to stop the service.
There were two separate airport hopper services to Dublin Airport; one starting in Tallaght and stopping at Clondalkin and Liffey Valley, and a second route running from Maynooth and stopping at Leixlip, Lucan and Liffey Valley.
Airport Hopper said all staff have been notified directly, and that its website is not accepting any new bookings and has not been doing so since 9 February.
It added that any customers that have booked will be refunded.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) confirmed that the licence holder informed it that the two airport hopper services would no longer be operating.
The NTA said that when a commercial bus operator withdraws a route, the NTA may then establish whether the withdrawal creates a deficiency in connectivity.
If that is that case, the NTA may identify potential solutions – which can include a requirement to provide a subsidised PSO (Public Service Obligation) route.
‘Much-needed operation’
Independent TD for Dublin Mid-West Paul Gogarty has said these should be among the options the NTA should look at to replace the service.
“I’m not 100% sure how commercially viable the service was, but it certainly provided a much-needed operation going direct to the airport for people who work unsociable hours, and also for people carrying a lot of luggage,” Mr Gogarty said.
He added: “We’re trying to encourage people not to drive to the airport but, in the absence of a proper rail link, we have no option but to use the bus and the bus service to the airport isn’t fit for purpose at the moment.
“There are options the NTA could use. There are commercial operations from Bus Éireann for example that stop at many locations but don’t pick up. They could be requested to pick up passengers.
“Maybe it might be commercially viable for them, or maybe we need to put a public service route onto some of the key areas going from a Maynooth and from Tallaght to the airport,” he said.
Officially, bus company Dualway holds the licence for the airport hopper routes, but said it sold the licence to operate the Maynooth/Tallaght to Dublin Airport routes in 2021 and that it is no longer responsible for them.
The cessation of the airport hopper routes comes as another private provider, Aircoach, announced significant cutbacks to its services due to declining demand.
From next month, Aircoach is cutting services to its 700 route, which will just operate between Dublin Airport and Leopardstown and will no longer serve Galloping Green, Foxrock, Cabinteely, Cornelscourt or Cherrywood.
As part of the changes, the 702 route will operate between Dublin Airport and Dalkey, serving the 3Arena, Ballsbridge, St Vincent’s Hospital, Booterstown, Monkstown, Dún Laoghaire and Dalkey via the Port Tunnel.
However, it will no longer serve Loughlinstown, Shankill, Bray or Greystones.
The company said these routes have been experiencing low and declining passenger numbers in recent years and are currently not viable.
It added that journey times had increased due to traffic congestion and other transport options to the airport are being favoured by passengers.
