Stansted Airport Chamber of Commerce

Ipswich Connection To Stansted Gateway Begins

Stansted passengers travelling from Ipswich now have an easy way to get to the airport using public transport with the launch of airdirect – the first direct 24 hour coach service to the town that begins operating tomorrow (Saturday May 3rd).

airdirect, a partnership between BAA Stansted and Excel Coaches, will operate services every two hours, 24 hours a day, 364 days of the year*, with Wi-Fi access, full reclining leather seats and generous legroom on board.

Nick Barton, Stansted’s director of strategy and solutions, said: “Around 44% of passengers arrive and depart from Stansted using public transport which is a UK leading position and one of the highest figures in Europe. The popularity of bus and coach services at Stansted continues to grow with over 550 scheduled departures every day to over 50 destinations across the UK.“This 24 hour service puts passengers right at the heart of our thinking, with high quality vehicles, Wi-Fi, text messaging, and the ability to book a taxi to connect with the coach if they live on the outskirts of Ipswich. “BAA Stansted is committed to maintaining its position as the leading UK airport for public transport, and this addition to our network is important for both business and leisure travellers in the eastern region.”

The new website www.airdirectipswich.com and telephone booking line 01279 681800, which allow passengers to easily book tickets for the service, are proving popular. To mark the launch of this service, the first four passengers who booked to travel on airdirect are receiving flowers, champagne and two complimentary tickets for their next trip.

Graham Hayden, managing director of Excel coaches, said:

“We have worked very hard to ensure this service provides the very best facilities that people expect from a modern public transport provider and are delighted to get the service underway this weekend. We are extremely proud of the link we are providing for the people of Ipswich, and are confident it’s a service that will be very popular.”