East Midlands Airport sits between three major cities, so costs vary significantly depending on where you are going. The distances are longer than most UK airport-to-city routes, which pushes taxi and transfer prices higher than you might expect.
Price comparison by destination
| Destination | Distance | Skylink bus | Taxi | Transfer (sedan) | |-------------|----------|------------|------|-------------------| | Nottingham | 20 km | GBP 5.00 (~EUR 5.90) | GBP 35–50 (~EUR 41–59) | GBP 45–60 (~EUR 53–70) | | Derby | 16 km | GBP 5.00 (~EUR 5.90) | GBP 25–35 (~EUR 29–41) | GBP 30–45 (~EUR 35–53) | | Leicester | 35 km | GBP 5.00 (~EUR 5.90) | GBP 55–75 (~EUR 65–88) | GBP 60–80 (~EUR 70–94) | | Loughborough | 15 km | GBP 5.00 (~EUR 5.90) | GBP 20–30 (~EUR 23–35) | GBP 25–35 (~EUR 29–41) |
Bus fare details
The Skylink bus charges a flat GBP 5.00 single fare regardless of destination. A return ticket is GBP 7.50, valid for 28 days. Children 5–15 pay half fare, and under 5s ride free. You can pay contactless on the bus — no need to buy tickets in advance.
The flat fare structure means the bus is particularly good value for the longer routes to Leicester, where a taxi would cost 10–15 times more.
Taxi fare factors
EMA taxis are mostly pre-booked or quoted at the rank. Fares vary by:
- Destination distance — the primary factor
- Time of day — late-night and early-morning fares are 20–30% higher
- Traffic — the M1 motorway and A50 can add time (and cost) during rush hours
- Vehicle type — standard saloons are cheaper than people carriers
The group calculation
EMA's longer distances make the group math interesting. For four people heading to Nottingham:
- Bus: 4 x GBP 5.00 = GBP 20.00 total, but 50–60 minutes each way
- Taxi: GBP 40–50 total, at GBP 10–12.50 per person — only double the bus fare for half the journey time
- Minivan transfer: GBP 60–80 total, at GBP 15–20 per person — with car seats, flight tracking, and door-to-door service