Private coach operator Aircoach issued a detailed service notice covering 12-13 November after learning that rolling road closures for EU summit security would cut its access to key Dublin stops. The flagship 700 route between Dublin Airport and Leopardstown was diverted away from O’Connell Street, Leeson Street and Kildare Street, while long-distance 704X and 705X services to Cork, Belfast and Derry skipped the city centre entirely and ran non-stop from the airport. Aircoach said it coordinated with the National Transport Authority and Gardaí to maintain minimum service levels, adding extra 700X shuttles from Westmoreland Street so passengers could still reach the airport. Passengers with integrated tickets were allowed to transfer without penalty. The firm moves an estimated 9,000 passengers on the affected routes every weekday, including hundreds of business travellers heading to multinational campuses in Leopardstown and Sandyford. HR teams at those firms circulated the diversion map and advised employees to work remotely or use the Luas Green Line interchange at Sandyford. While diversions were scheduled to end at midnight on 13 November, Aircoach warned that late-running convoys could keep bridge lifts and quay closures in place longer. The operator promised real-time updates via social media and encouraged travellers to check flight status before setting off. The episode highlights how surface-access resilience is now a board-level concern for companies whose mobile staff rely on coach links to avoid costly city-centre hotel stays.
Source: Aircoach
