RouteRankingIf you are flying from Birmingham to Dublin, the most reliable option right now is the 08:40 Ryanair departure (FR661), arriving on time 89.74% of the time based on recent flight data. Choosing the wrong flight could reduce your chances of arriving on time by up to 29 percentage points. See the full rankings on the Birmingham to Dublin route page.
Birmingham to Dublin is a busy route served by both Ryanair and Aer Lingus, with multiple departures throughout the day. Based on 60 days and over 600 flights of real arrival data, there is a clear difference in reliability depending on when you choose to fly, and the gap between the best and worst performing flights is significant.
The data behind the analysis
We analysed 303 flights operating from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Dublin (DUB) over the past 60 days, covering 8 scheduled services operated by Ryanair and Aer Lingus.
Birmingham → Dublin
| Flight | Airline | Approx. Departure | On-Time % |
|---|---|---|---|
| FR661 | Ryanair | 08:40 | 89.74% |
| EI263 | Aer Lingus | 08:15 | 88.10% |
| FR667 | Ryanair | 20:05 | 84.85% |
| EI3261 | Aer Lingus | 09:10 | 81.25% |
| FR663 | Ryanair | 11:00 | 76.32% |
| EI3265 | Aer Lingus | 11:40 | 75.00% |
| FR665 | Ryanair | 14:40 | 69.23% |
| EI3275 | Aer Lingus | 16:55 | 60.53% |
The top performing flight is the 08:40 Ryanair service (FR661), arriving on time 89.74% of the time. The 08:15 Aer Lingus departure (EI263) is close behind at 88.10%, so both morning flights are highly reliable.
There is a clear drop-off from there. The 11:00 and 11:40 departures arrive on time between 75% and 76% of the time, and the afternoon services fall further still. The worst performer on this route is the 16:55 Aer Lingus service (EI3275), arriving on time just 60.53% of the time, nearly 30 percentage points behind the leader.
If you need a balance between convenience and reliability, the 09:10 Aer Lingus departure (EI3261) is worth considering at 81.25%. For the latest rankings, check the Birmingham to Dublin route page.
Does departure time matter?
Based on recent data, departure time is one of the most important factors on this route. The difference between the most and least reliable flights is 29 percentage points, which is one of the larger spreads we have seen across the routes we track.
In general:
- Morning flights departing before 10:00 perform best, with on-time rates between 81% and 90%
- Midday departures around 11:00-11:40 are noticeably less consistent, dropping to the mid-70s
- Afternoon and early evening flights fall below 70%, with the 16:55 service the least reliable option on the route.
This pattern is worth factoring in if you are travelling for a meeting, connecting flight, or any time-sensitive commitment.
Flights from Dublin to Birmingham
The return leg tells a different story, which customers can be grateful for. After analysing 338 flights operating from Dublin to Birmingham over the same 60-day period, the punctuality figures are among the best we have recorded across any route in our dataset.
Two flights are running at 100% on-time across the full sample: the 06:40 Aer Lingus service (EI262, 44 observations) and the 07:20 Aer Lingus departure (EI3260, 36 observations). The early Ryanair service at 05:45 (FR660) is close behind at 97.67%.
Even the least reliable return flight, the 15:35 Ryanair service (FR666) at 85.71% comfortably outperforms the best outbound option at a similar time. If punctuality matters, flying back from Dublin to Birmingham is a considerably lower-risk journey than the outbound leg.
Dublin → Birmingham
| Flight | Airline | Approx. Departure | On-Time % |
|---|---|---|---|
| EI262 | Aer Lingus | 06:40 | 100.00% |
| EI3260 | Aer Lingus | 07:20 | 100.00% |
| FR660 | Ryanair | 05:45 | 97.67% |
| FR664 | Ryanair | 12:45 | 95.45% |
| EI3264 | Aer Lingus | 10:00 | 92.68% |
| FR668 | Ryanair | 20:50 | 90.63% |
| FR662 | Ryanair | 09:00 | 88.37% |
| FR666 | Ryanair | 15:35 | 85.71% |
Full details are available on the Dublin to Birmingham route page.
Ryanair vs Aer Lingus on this route
The data on this route does not produce a clear winner between the two airlines as the performance is highly dependent on direction and time of day.
Outbound from Birmingham, Ryanair holds a slight edge in the morning (FR661 at 89.74% vs EI263 at 88.10%), but Aer Lingus has the lowest reliability on the route with the 16:55 service at 60.53%. On the return from Dublin, Aer Lingus dominates the top of the table with two 100% services, while Ryanair leads on volume with more departures across the day.
The honest answer is that the time of day matters more than the airline on this particular route.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is the flight from Birmingham to Dublin? The flight from Birmingham to Dublin takes approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.
Which flight has the best on-time record from Birmingham? Based on recent data tracked by RouteRanking, the 08:40 Ryanair service (FR661) is the most punctual outbound flight, arriving on time 89.74% of the time.
Which flight has the best on-time record from Dublin? The 06:40 Aer Lingus service (EI262) and the 07:20 Aer Lingus service (EI3260) are both running at 100% on-time based on 60 days of data.
Which airlines fly from Birmingham to Dublin? Ryanair and Aer Lingus both operate this route, with multiple daily departures from Birmingham Airport (BHX) to Dublin Airport (DUB).
How often are flights delayed on this route? Around 20% of outbound Birmingham to Dublin flights experience delays based on recent data. The return leg from Dublin is significantly more reliable, with delays affecting fewer than 10% of flights.
Is this a domestic flight? No. Birmingham to Dublin is an international route between England and Ireland, though it does not require a passport for UK and Irish citizens travelling under the Common Travel Area.
What are the return flight options? Dublin to Birmingham has eight scheduled departures, with the 06:40 and 07:20 Aer Lingus services both running at 100% on-time based on recent data. See the Dublin to Birmingham route page for the latest figures.
Where can I see all Birmingham Airport routes ranked by punctuality? The full breakdown of all routes departing Birmingham Airport is available on the Birmingham Airport punctuality page.