EasyBus is entering the Manchester bus market, with services to Manchester Airport from both the city centre and Telford.
An introductory offer is in effect on both services. Fares can be booked online, with 20,000 £1 seats available for the Manchester service, which runs from the city centre to the airport via Manchester University. A total of 10,000 journeys on the service from Telford, which also serves Shrewsbury, Oswestry, Wrexham and Chester on the way to the airport, can be booked for £2 each way.
Both easyBus services commence on October 21 and are part of the EasyJet consortium. There will be 60 easyBus departures a day from Manchester City Centre, starting at 0700hrs from Chorlton Street opposite the coach station. Th services will run through the day up to 2330hrs, seven days a week, with the last bus from the airport to the city centre via the university also leaving at that time.
Throughout the day buses will run half hourly via the University Shopping Centre, Oxford Road, and the journey to the airport should take approximately 25-30 minutes.
Meanwhile, the Telford service will see 16 departures per day, seven days per week.
The journey starts from Telford Bus Station with easyBus stops at Shrewsbury Bus Station, Bicton Heath Co-Op, Oswestry Mile End Services, Wrexham General Railway Station and Chester South Holiday Inn, direct to Manchester Airport Bus Station. The first journey departs from Shrewsbury at 0400hrs and the last journey from Manchester Airport is 0045hrs.
The service is initially utilising 12 orange-liveried Renault Master minibuses, with easyBus employing 15 people the operate it.
Andrew Martin, who will be directing easyBus operations, explained: “I have experience of how this low-cost airport transfer operation works in France where it is a huge success.
“We are seeking to replicate this in the UK, starting in the Midlands with Telford and Shrewsbury, as our research has identified Shropshire as a key part of the cheap bus travel plan for holidaymakers, business people and anyone wishing to have a day out.
“Research has shown that there is a market for cheap bus travel to destinations such a the busy Manchester Airport for holidaymakers, business people and others, and we are looking forward to launching our most exciting project in this region. He added: “easyBus will be by far the cheapest way of travelling to Manchester Airport from the City Centre.
“This is going to be a great way for people to get to the Airport from the City Centre and the easyBus initiative will also benefit students at the University.
“It will always be cheaper to book tickets online, but people can still pay the driver. However, this will cost more.
“We shall still be a lot cheaper than the train, taxi or parking a car at the Airport. There will be no other means of transport to beat our price.”
