CONDOR has apologised to passengers who have raised “understandable concerns” after their travel plans were disrupted following changes to the summer schedule.
But the ferry operator has stressed that the majority of travellers have been unaffected – or notified of minor changes of one or two hours – and that some complaints were “inevitable”.
Last month, interim-chief executive Christophe Mathieu revealed that Condor would be returning to its pre-Covid sailing schedule.
The changes, which will take effect in May, will see more high-speed crossings from Poole reverting to morning departures as well as a greater frequency of sailings between Jersey, Guernsey and St Malo.
However, the switch has caused frustration for some travellers whose plans – based on their original bookings – have had to change.
One passenger, James Dilks, told the JEP that he frequently travelled to the UK to race mountain bikes, but had been notified that his upcoming departure from Jersey had been moved to a different day.
“My main frustration is I made the booking a month or so ago,” he added, noting that he usually tried to book “well in advance”.
He said that it was an example of “frequent users” being “let down by Condor doing as they please”.
Another Islander, who had planned a holiday in France, said that his late afternoon return from St Malo had been moved by nearly ten hours to an early morning sailing, meaning it would be necessary to get to the French port the night before.
“Given we only plan to be away for five days, it has really messed up our plans,” he added.
“We had previously hoped to enjoy more of our holiday, but now we have had to cut things short to make sure we can get to the terminal in time.”
In a social media post, another passenger, JJ Gallagher, wrote: “You’re destroying people’s holidays with all these changes. Our holiday has been cut by a day alone with [hundreds] of others.” In a statement, Condor said that more than three-quarters of its passengers remained unaffected “or are being notified of a minor one- or two-hour time change”.
“The timetable will feature more convenient timings for both freight customers and passengers,” the statement continued.
Mr Mathieu, who is also chief executive of Brittany Ferries, which is part of the consortium which owns Condor, added: “Over the last couple of months I have taken a fresh look at Condor’s operations and it has been evident from passengers and freight clients that they prefer better timed services, so this is being reflected in the updated schedule being introduced.
“Given that schedule change causes disruption, regrettably some complaints are inevitable. We are sorry for those who have been affected and in particular for any miscommunication that may have occurred and are working with passengers individually.
“We believe the majority of Islanders, passengers and freight users will though benefit in the medium to long term, notwithstanding understandable concerns from some raised in the immediate aftermath.”
Mr Mathieu’s comments come as the ferry firm continues discussions with the governments of Jersey and Guernsey over a new operating agreement for freight and passenger ferry services, with Condor’s current agreement due to end next year.
A potential competitor, DFDS, is expected to make its pitch to Jersey politicians next week.
Last month Mr Mathieu said that Brittany Ferries wanted to get “far more involved in the business of the Channel Islands”.
At the time, he said the operator was “determined to answer and win the tender”.
