HD finally confirms that it is not coming back

HD FERRIES is not coming back.

It announced yesterday that it will not be returning for a third season operating between the Channel Islands and France.

The news had been more than half-expected.

'We have been trying for some time to contact HD about whether they intended to resume their service,' said Commerce and Employment's director of marketing and tourism Chris Elliott.

'Their lack of response until now means their confirmation doesn't come as a surprise given the operating problems they encountered in 2008.'

The HD website blamed a lack of passengers and rival operator Condor getting preferential treatment - something Mr Elliott refuted.

'Although customers have been overwhelmingly supportive of our service and our low fares have succeeded in expanding the market, the simple truth is that not enough people are able to travel as often as would be necessary to make the service viable,' said HD.

'With little prospect of generating a reasonable return on investment in the foreseeable future, we have taken the difficult decision not to resume services.'