Jersey chief minister urges solution after Guernsey blocks proposed inter-island ferry and Loganair bids

Jersey’s Chief Minister Senator Lyndon Farnham said the government has “tried everything to improve inter-island car ferry services” after Guernsey rejected a proposed weekend service and declined Loganair’s bid to operate routes; he made the remarks in his first extended interview since being re-elected and said he will press for a resolution at upcoming bilateral talks this week.

Farnham described the current ferry arrangement as challenging and said services would have been better served by a single operator rather than two, noting that since March 2025 passenger and freight links have been split between DFDS for Jersey and Brittany Ferries for Guernsey.

Vehicle sailings between the islands currently run only on Wednesdays on Brittany Ferries’ Voyager, a limitation that prompted DFDS to propose a Friday evening sailing using the Stena Vinga from Jersey to Guernsey and onward to Portsmouth, with a return on Monday afternoons.

Guernsey officials later told Jersey and DFDS to “stop playing games” after sailings were cancelled amid accusations that DFDS lacked the licence to operate the planned services.

Farnham said he did not fully understand Guernsey’s refusal of the DFDS proposals and expressed disappointment that Guernsey had also turned down Loganair’s application to operate routes from Guernsey to Southampton and Jersey following the collapse of Blue Islands.

He praised the working relationship with Guernsey’s Chief Minister Deputy Lindsay de Sausmarez as “excellent” and said the leaders would discuss ferry and air-link issues during a bilateral meeting timed to coincide with this week’s British-Irish Council summit in St Peter Port.

Farnham added that he wished Brittany Ferries well amid its announcement of route closures and ship sales for financial reasons, stressing the importance of both Brittany Ferries and DFDS remaining viable for the region’s connectivity.

Highlighting concerns for residents, Farnham said travel difficulties affect attendance at sporting and social events and pledged to continue pressing for improved car ferry options now that he has returned to office.