The inter-island conundrum
GIVEN the interest being shown in inter-island ferry services and the ‘will they, won’t they’ approach currently being demonstrated by its potential operators, one would think that ferries would be queuing up to sate the demand for such a lucrative stretch of water.
However we find ourselves relishing an offering that looks like the thinnest of gruel – a Wednesday from Brittany Ferries, and a Sunday service from DFDS.
Condor has experience of big demand days – Murattis and Siam Cups spring to mind – and DFDS has spoken of its awareness of them, but at this stage we know of no prospect of anything beyond the schedule.
We can see that there are plenty of islanders irritated by the situation – especially as a single operator would effectively be giving us an almost daily service if history is anything to go by.
However in our frustration, we also need to consider the back story. In 2018 the States subsidised Manche-Iles Express for a day trip service between the islands. Mired with a month of technical trouble, over two months of operation it carried 333 passengers from Jersey to Guernsey, which cost this island some £60 per head.
It seems clear that Manche-Iles, already financially supported by the islands this summer, must help, and even could do more to pick up peak demand, and needs to do more to raise its profile with the travelling public.
But let’s not overestimate the demand for inter-island travel, especially from Jersey to here – and it won’t do much to develop our economy by facilitating more off-island spending sprees.