DFDS has provided a progress report on the sailing schedules between Jersey and Poole and Portsmouth in the UK.
DFDS will be serving the island with two high-speed craft, a conventional passenger vessel and a dedicated freight vessel, with plenty of scope to add departures to this schedule where there is demand.
DFDS are continuing to work with stakeholders on the island to build in feedback on the schedules, which will be completed before the launch of the booking platform at the end of the month.
The schedules between Jersey and the UK includes a return, direct service to the UK on most days of the week, ensuring consistent and reliable connectivity for local islanders, allowing people to start planning their immediate travel. On a weekly basis, the services will have the capacity to accommodate an average of 15,000 passengers in peak season.
Chris Parker, Route Director for Jersey, said: “We are conscious that islanders are waiting for more information about our services, and we want to give an update on where we are to be transparent about the timetables to enable travellers to start to plan their travel. The schedules allow us to offer reliable and frequent services to local islanders and visitors from the UK, ensuring consistent connectivity, and we have flexibility to add extra departures in response to the feedback we are receiving
“We will continue to develop and enhance our services for islanders over the coming months, working closely with industry bodies and the Government, encouraging feedback, and operating with transparency and integrity.”
Bookings for all services will open by the 31st of January and DFDS will be running a joint campaign with Visit Jersey to promote travel to the island.
Click here to view the Jersey-UK-Jersey schedule.
Jersey Chamber of Commerce welcomed the news. Lee Madden, Vice President, Chamber of Commerce, said: “Since the start of the year, The Jersey Chamber of Commerce has been heavily involved with the senior management team at DFDS, and via a series of feedback sessions where we outlined areas for improvement to the first draft schedules we were sighted of. It is worth noting that the first draft schedules did comply with the service level agreement within their contract and with 35% of the Guernsey business no longer there, the potential for fewer sailings would always exist.
“DFDS have been in ‘listening mode’ and already taken onboard some of our member suggestions and added several key dates to the original draft schedule. We are assured there will be capacity for further additional services to this route where and when needed, and advised that we will see details for the southbound route schedules next week. Chamber will be reviewing freight sailings in the coming days. We will be engaging with the many businesses reliant on a consistent and regular frieght schedule, to continue our feedback to DFDS.”
Tim Crowley, Chair of the Chamber Visitor Economy Committee, commented: “It would be fair to say that waiting until the 31st January is not an ideal situation for customers and crucially for the visitor economy. The delay is frustrating and costly to the industry, but we also understand that DFDS is working hard to deliver a robust booking platform, only having the ability to sign their contract with the Government on the 31st December.
“We would encourage DFDS, Government of Jersey and Visit Jersey to focus on supporting the visitor economy sector by aligning not only their marketing and promotion resources but also their combined investment initiatives to win back those customers potentially lost because they’ve not been able to book. We would be keen to see discounted tickets available to encourage an uplift in bookings to see a recovery for the sector.”