Condor halts all fast-ferry sailings between January and April

Tuesday 08 December 2020

There will be no high-speed ferry sailings to and from Jersey in the first three months of next year.

Instead, the Island will only be served by a daily Commodore Clipper service to Portsmouth and a weekly sailing to St Malo. There will be no changes to freight services, and the high-speed ferry will still operate in December, albeit on a revised schedule.

Condor says it has had to reduce its service because of the continuing impact of the pandemic.

A spokesperson for the ferry operator said: “The frequency of high speed passenger sailings is being pared back during the January - March winter period as a consequence of the continuing severe travel and quarantine restrictions.

“We are continuing to see extremely low demand following the movement of both France and the UK into national lockdowns and border controls which are affecting travel volumes to and from the Channel Islands.

Pictured: Only the daily Clipper sailing will operate in the first three months of next year.

“Following recent discussions with the Government of Jersey and States of Guernsey on the financial implications of maintaining unsustainable passenger sailings during the winter, Condor will not operate high speed services from St Malo and Poole until April 2021. 

“However, Commodore Clipper will continue to provide daily passenger and vehicle capacity to Portsmouth and on Saturdays to St. Malo where forward booking demand on the southern route is extremely low.

“High speed services for the rest of December, linking the Islands with the UK and St Malo, will be maintained on a slightly revised schedule to enable passengers to complete their Christmas travel at this important time of year. 

“Booking demand has also understandably fallen significantly in this period. Any minor timetable changes will be communicated early this week.

“Condor remains absolutely committed to a fuller schedule resumption as soon as restrictions lift and travel normalcy returns’ currently there is no certainty when any easing of controls will be possible. 

“These are, of course, exceptional and unprecedented times so Condor will continue to liaise closely with the Channel Islands’ governments to ensure sea connectivity services are robust and viable during the pandemic.

“Freight services to and from the Islands remain unchanged.”