New figures from Brittany Ferries show passenger numbers on routes serving Guernsey have risen by almost 29% since 2024, despite a 4.1% decline across the wider Channel Islands ferry market.
As a result, the island’s share of the market has jumped from 33% to 44% in two years, with more than 52,000 additional passengers travelling on routes serving Guernsey.
The figures mark a significant turnaround since Brittany Ferries took responsibility for the island’s ferry services under a 15-year agreement with the States last year.
The biggest success has been the French market, with passenger numbers between Guernsey and St Malo soaring by 56.5% compared with 2024.
Brittany Ferries’ CEO Christophe Mathieu said the improved timetable had played an important role in this increase.
‘I’m particularly pleased to see the growth in travel between Guernsey and France,' he said.
‘Our schedule has enabled us to offer direct sailings with better timings and a greater choice of departures, making it easier for people to travel between the two destinations.
‘This is all the more remarkable when you consider the respective populations of both islands. For the Bailiwick of Guernsey to have welcomed almost half of all sea passengers to the Channel Islands is a credit to everyone involved.’
More than 102,000 passengers travelled between Guernsey and St Malo in the 11 months to the end of September, an increase of nearly 37,000 on the same period two years ago.
UK connections have also strengthened. Passenger numbers on the Poole and Portsmouth routes are up 13.2%.
The growth has continued beyond the peak summer season, with almost double the number of passengers recorded on the St Malo route this September compared to those in 2024.
Brittany Ferries said it had also been working with Visit Guernsey to encourage French visitors to stay in the island longer, bringing greater benefits to the local hospitality industry.
Although growth has slowed this year, with passenger numbers on Guernsey routes increasing by 2.4% compared with 2025, the operator said the figures demonstrated that last year’s gains had been maintained.
The contrast with Jersey was stark.
Passenger numbers on its ferry routes remain well below their 2024 levels, particularly on the St Malo route.
‘Growth this year has been modest,’ said Mr Mathieu.
‘But that is what consolidating a step change looks like: the increase since 2024 has been confirmed.
‘We have structurally increased volumes to Guernsey compared with the previous operation, while volumes to Jersey remain well below where they were two years ago.’
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