DFDS has marked its first year operating Jersey’s ferry services by pledging improvements to reliability, schedules and customer experience.
The ferry operator, which took over in March 2025, said it had carried more than 181,000 passengers and delivered over 1,800 sailings in its first year, while investing more than £1m with local suppliers.
It has also pointed to strong forward demand, with more than 130,000 passengers already booked for 2026, and plans including refined timetables, improved customer communication, closer collaboration with freight customers and a strengthened contingency planning for weather disruption.
Beginning its Jersey operation a year ago almost to the day, the operator admitted that its first 12 months had been challenging, including the fact that it had only three months to prepare due to delays in the tender process.
Guernsey, meanwhile, stuck with previous operator Condor, which has now been absorbed into its then majority owner Brittany Ferries. The island has seen a significant increase in passengers from France, not least because the operator is French and all sailings to and from St Malo are now direct rather than via Jersey.
Chris Parker, Route Director for DFDS Jersey, said: “We recognise the first few months were challenging, but what matters is the progress since, and the improvements islanders are now experiencing. In 2026, we will go further by strengthening schedules, improving reliability and enhancing the customer experience.
“Reliability is vital for islanders and businesses, so this remains central to our plans as we enter our second year serving Jersey. We will continue building confidence through a dependable, consistent service.”
However, a survey released this morning by Guernsey-based pollster Island Global Research suggests more work may be needed to win over public travelling between the islands.
The survey was completed by 722 respondents in Jersey, 985 in Guernsey and 756 in the Isle of Man earlier this year.
Levels of satisfaction with air and sea travels had dropped since the firm asked the same questions in 2019.
Just 10% of the Jersey-resident respondents stated that they were satisfied with the cost and reliability of sea travel compared to around 40% in Guernsey.
Overall, the polling was more favourable for air travel, with 23% satisfied or very satisfied with the cost of getting on a plane, while 50% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
When it came to the reliability of airlinks, 39% of Jersey residents were satisfied or very satisfied while 28% were dissatisfied or very dissatisfied.
In Guernsey, 39% of people surveyed with either satisfied or very satisfied with the cost of getting off the island by sea, with 43% showing the same sentiment for reliability.
However, more people in Guernsey than Jersey were unhappy about the cost and reliability of air links there.
The survey found that, in Jersey, there was a noticeable drop in satisfaction with all aspects of off-island travel since 2019, and the majority of Islanders do not have a lot of confidence in future travel links.
There was a 14% drop in satisfaction in ferry costs and reliability in Jersey in the seven years since 2019, compared to a 20% rise in Guernsey.
Satisfaction in air travel among Jersey residents also fell over the same period, by 12% when came to cost, and 18% concerning reliability.
Around one in three respondents in Jersey were confident that future travel links will meet the needs of residents travelling both for personal and business reasons; but this fell to one in five when it came to confidence in future travel for tourists and exporters/importers.
Commenting on the survey as a whole, Island Global Research managing director Lindsay Jefferies, said: “Our research shows that residents across the Crown Dependencies continue to have concerns about the reliability, cost, and long term resilience of off island travel links.
“Guernsey’s sea travel performs comparatively well, but overall levels of satisfaction and confidence in future provision remain low. These findings highlight the need for ongoing investment, clear planning, and open communication to help ensure our islands stay well connected and supported in the years ahead.”
- Chris Parker, Route Director for DFDS Jersey, is the subject of the Saturday Interview in JEP Weekend – pick up a copy tomorrow.
