✈️ Buses to East Midlands Airport
5 bus and coach routes serve East Midlands Airport, the busiest being the SKY, about 48 minutes to Derby Bus Station. 2 run 24 hours a day.
First and last times are departures from East Midlands Airport itself, on weekdays. Buses towards the airport run earlier and later than this at stops along the way — open a route for the timetable at your own stop.
Every route serving East Midlands Airport
- SNX Nottingham → East Mids Airport ~36 min from airport 04:36–22:47 🌙 Sunday–Friday nights trentbarton
- SKY Leicester → Derby Bus Station ~48 min 24 hours Kinchbus
- SN Nottingham → East Mids Gateway ~54 min 24 hours trentbarton
- 9 East Midlands Gateway → Burton ~68 min from airport 05:01–21:41 🌙 Sunday–Friday nights Diamond Bus East Midlands
- 15 Ilkeston → East Mids Airport ~71 min from airport 04:50–00:03 🌙 Every night trentbarton
Journey times are the typical end-to-end run between the airport and the far end of the route, taken as the median across every journey in the published timetable — not a promise for your particular trip. Allow more at peak times.
Night buses to East Midlands Airport
For very early flights and late arrivals. Nights are the night you set out on, so a 01:30 bus on Saturday morning is listed under Friday.
- SNX Nottingham → East Mids Airport Sunday–Friday nights 04:05–07:00
- SKY Leicester → Derby Bus Station Every night 24 hours runs tonight
- SN Nottingham → East Mids Gateway Every night 24 hours runs tonight
- 9 East Midlands Gateway → Burton Sunday–Friday nights 04:05–07:00
- 15 Ilkeston → East Mids Airport Every night 03:55–07:00 runs tonight
See night buses across the UK.
Direct buses to East Midlands Airport from
Places on a route that reaches the airport without changing. The bus may take a long way round from the far end — check the route for your own stop.
Frequently asked questions
What time is the first bus to East Midlands Airport?
2 routes run to East Midlands Airport 24 hours a day, so there is a bus whatever time your flight leaves. Of the routes with fixed hours, the earliest weekday departure from the airport is 04:36 on the SNX. Times from your own stop will differ — open the route for its full timetable.
Is there a night bus to East Midlands Airport?
Yes. 5 of the 5 routes serving East Midlands Airport run in the small hours, and 2 run right around the clock. Check which nights each one runs — outside London many run at weekends only.
How long does the bus take to East Midlands Airport?
It depends on the route. The busiest is the SKY, which takes about 48 minutes between the airport and Derby Bus Station. Times on this page are the median end-to-end journey from the published timetable, so allow extra at peak times.
How much is the bus to East Midlands Airport?
Local bus fares in England are capped at £3 for a single until 31 December 2026. Dedicated airport coach services are not part of the cap and are priced by the operator — usually cheaper if you book ahead.
Other airports
Timetables from the operators via the DfT Bus Open Data Service. See all UK airports by bus , or every stop and route at East Midlands Airport.