Source: Channel Islands – States of Alderney
Media Release
Date: June 6th 2025
Economic Development Committee looks to boost inter island and regional travel for 2025 and beyond
The Economic Development Committee (EDC) has made provision of transport links to and from the island a key objective over the first six months of 2025.
EDC has continued its subsidised support to Alderney Ferry Services, which has moved over 10,000 passengers between Alderney and Guernsey since its establishment 3 years ago. This has proved in recent years that it is essential to the island both economically and socially and bolsters the tourism and visitor offering. This renewed agreement could also run till 2027 subject to review by both parties.
The Committee has also undertaken a tender process for a sea link service on the largely unexploited Jersey route. Water Taxi CI was selected as the operator for the route for 2025 with a view to extending to 2026, the operator is currently undertaking a marketing campaign in Jersey working with Visit Alderney.
Chair of Economic Development Stuart Clark said:
“As a first step, ensuring the ferry service between Alderney and Guernsey continued was of paramount importance for the Committee. It supports the visitor economy and residents alike, whilst complementing the air services provided by Aurigny on the lifeline routes, which are provided under the public service obligation”
He added, “A successful tender process for the Jersey route is also a great step forward in developing inter-island connectivity. We’re pleased that Water Taxi CI is committing to an intense marketing campaign to ramp up the service and there has been an encouraging amount of traction on social media since the States of Alderney’s announcement about the service on 23rd May”.
Breaking new ground, The Committee has also struck agreement with the Government of Jersey and Ports of Jersey, working on a joint venture which provides limited subsidy support to Finistair, an airline out of France, operating between Alderney and Brest via Jersey on a trial basis between June and August this year.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our island, not only in respect of inter-island travel, but for regional connectivity too. We’re of the view that Finistair and Water Taxi Ci will complement one another and provide us valuable data for the demand on this route, without detracting in any material way from the two critically important PSO lifeline routes operated by Aurigny. It demonstrates Alderney’s desire to encourage economic revitalisation by improving connectivity to and from the island, as has been expressed in several States’ debates on Alderney’s connectivity in Guernsey.”
The Government of Jersey’s Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said: “I am pleased to have worked with the States of Alderney to improve the links between our islands by delivering a new air route for this summer. I look forward to continuing to build on these links to find new areas of cooperation and learn from each other in areas such as tourism, heritage and energy.”
Ends