Prior to 2008, route was originally called AirLine Shuttle, and ran between Loughborough and Long Eaton then Derby via the airport.

During September 2022, funding from Leicestershire County Council and Nottinghamshire County Council halted plans to withdraw all journeys of the Skylink Nottingham between EMA Gateway and Loughborough alongside journeys between EMA Gateway and Coalville operating overnight between 8pm and 5am would be withdrawn, the funding lasted until April 2023 when the changes were implemented.

Although not a part of Skylink brand, trentbarton also operate half-hourly extensions to East Midlands Airport on their My15 route between Ilkeston and New Sawley, while Diamond East Midlands extended their service AirLine 9 to East Midlands Airport in 2019, connecting the airport with Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Swadlincote and Burton-upon-Trent..[10] On 31 March 2024, Kinchbus increased the frequency of the Leicester-Derby service to every 15 minutes during the Monday to Saturday daytimes, an additional four vehicles are being refurbished from the trentbarton fleet.

[11] Trent Barton operate 11 2017 Enviro200 MMCs on their Skylink Nottingham route while the Skylink Express services are currently using two 2004 Wright Solars which will be replaced by newer buses which are surplus from other Trent Barton services, including a 2009 Wright Eclipse Urban.

Kinchbus upgraded the Leicester-Derby route with 12 ADL Enviro200 MMCs to help meet the now cancelled Leicester clean air zone requirements which was due to come into force during late 2020, an additional four vehicles are being refurbished from the trentbarton fleet for the uplift in service.