‘Ferry options are there for students’

Since March when the coronavirus struck Guernsey and the borders were de facto closed, Condor has made decisions on a month-by-month basis as to which sailings need to be cancelled.

A lack of ability to sail and a lack of demand are the two main factors for its decisions.

All the time, Condor officials are waiting for the latest government announcements which will advise them as to whether they should cancel some sailings.

CEO Paul Luxon said when advice was given that travel would not return to normal until at least September and no definitive date was given, the company was left in a position where it did not know if there would be sailings in September.

‘However, if we do have to cancel, we have to do it at some point to let customers know of any changes,’ he said.

‘So it’s a difficult balance between waiting for advice and giving customers notice if we have to cancel – we’re always keeping our fingers crossed.’

Sailings have been put on for 23 and 30 August, which students – and anyone hoping to travel to the UK – can book onto.

As well, Condor’s website is currently showing a revised September schedule which students could book onto.

If there is not enough demand, and some sailings have to be cancelled, there will still be some that students can use to get to university.

On top of this, the Clipper runs every Monday to Saturday to Portsmouth with the weekly capacity for 400 passengers and 400-plus cars.

Mr Luxon said he hoped these three options would ease the minds of some of those concerned about how they will get to the UK for university in September.

‘Students may have to go slightly earlier than they perhaps wanted to, or on a different day, but in a time of crisis you have to be adaptable.’