guideairport

Isle of Man Airport to Douglas: Bus Routes, Times & Tips

By Itamar Bareket

Ronaldsway Airport is the Isle of Man's only commercial airport, located about 10 miles south of Douglas near Castletown. There is no rail link or dedicated airport shuttle, but the south corridor routes (1, 1a, 1h, 2, 2a, 11, 11a, 12, 12a) all serve the airport directly on their way between Douglas and the south of the island. A single adult fare from the airport to Douglas is £2.80 (child £1.40).

Adult Fare
£2.80
Child Fare
£1.40
Go Places 12
£2.25/journey
Routes
1/1a/1h/2/2a/11/11a/12/12a

Bus Routes from the Airport

The airport is served by the entire south corridor - routes 1, 1a, 1h, 2, 2a, 11, 11a, 12, and 12a. These routes follow slightly different paths through the southern towns but all pass through the airport on their way between Douglas and Port Erin/Port St Mary/Castletown. Any of them heading northbound will get you to Douglas.

1/1a/1h/2/2a
South Corridor (southbound from Douglas)
Douglas → Airport - Castletown - Port Erin
11/11a/12/12a
South Corridor (northbound to Douglas)
Port Erin - Castletown - Airport → Douglas

Finding the Bus Stop

The airport bus stop is located on the main road (A5) directly outside the terminal building. When you exit the arrivals hall, turn right and walk approximately 100 metres along the pavement to the bus stop. It is clearly signed with a Bus Vannin flag and a shelter. Buses heading to Douglas stop on the terminal side of the road; buses heading south towards Castletown and Port Erin stop on the opposite side.

Key Takeaway
You do not need to pre-book. Just walk to the bus stop outside the terminal, board the next bus heading to Douglas, and pay the driver with cash or use a Go Places pre-paid card.

Plan your journey with Kivoon - free on iOS and Android

Download Kivoon — free on iOS & Android

Paying Your Fare

You can pay the driver with cash when you board. The fare from the airport to Douglas is £2.80 for a single adult ticket (£1.40 for children). The driver can give change, but having smaller notes or coins speeds things up. If you have a Go Places 12 pre-paid card, the fare is £2.25 per journey. Visit bus.im for full fare details.

See the next bus from the airport in real time

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Timetable and Last Buses

Check the Kivoon app or bus.im for the latest timetable, including first and last bus times. Services are reduced on Sundays and bank holidays. During TT and other major events, Bus Vannin may run additional or modified services.

If your flight lands after the last bus has departed, your options are a taxi or a pre-arranged hotel transfer. Several local taxi companies serve the airport. Fares from the airport to Douglas are typically £20 to £25. There is no Uber or ride-hailing app on the Isle of Man, so you will need to call a taxi or use the rank at the terminal. It is worth saving a local taxi number before you travel, especially for late arrivals.

Using the Kivoon App

The Kivoon app shows live departure times for the airport bus stop. When buses are running and being tracked, you will see real-time arrival estimates rather than just the scheduled timetable. This is especially useful when connections are tight or when services are running a few minutes behind schedule. You can also set the airport as a favourite stop for quick access on future trips.

Getting to the Airport from Douglas

The same south corridor routes (1, 1a, 1h, 2, 2a, 12, 12a) operate southbound from Douglas Lord Street bus station through the airport. Allow extra time if you are catching a flight, as buses can be delayed by traffic in Douglas town centre, particularly during rush hour. A good rule of thumb is to aim for a bus that arrives at the airport at least 75 minutes before your departure time.

Adult Fare
£2.80
Child Fare
£1.40
Under 5s
Free
Taxi Alternative
~£20-25

Frequently Asked Questions

An adult single fare from Ronaldsway Airport to Douglas is £2.80. Children aged 5-15 pay £1.40, and under 5s travel free. If you have a Go Places 12 pre-paid card, the fare is £2.25 per journey. You can check current fares and live departure times in the Kivoon app.

The south corridor routes 1, 1a, 1h, 2, 2a, 11, 11a, 12, and 12a all stop at Ronaldsway Airport on their way between Douglas and the south of the island. Any northbound service will take you to Douglas. Use the Kivoon app to see which bus is coming next in real time.

If you arrive after the last bus, your options are a taxi or a pre-arranged hotel transfer. There is no Uber or ride-hailing app on the Isle of Man. Local taxi companies serve the airport, with fares to Douglas typically around £20-25. Save a taxi number before you travel.

All buses accept contactless payment (card, Apple Pay, Android Pay) and cash. For discounted fares, you can use a Go Places 12 or Go Places 6 pre-paid card. Check the Kivoon app for current timetables.

See live departure times for this route on Kivoon

Download Kivoon — free on iOS & Android