Whatever the weather – and inter-island politics – Jersey’s key ferry operator says passenger bookings are continuing on the up.

The ferry operator says it has seen another month of passenger growth, with its Poole service recording a 21% jump in travellers during June compared with the same month last year.

The company’s Saint Malo route also enjoyed an 8% increase, while passenger numbers on the Portsmouth service held steady.

Continuing momentum

It’s the latest sign that DFDS’ first full summer operating Jersey’s lifeline routes is continuing to gather pace.

Last month, the operator said that bookings for travel between June and September were running 25% ahead of the same point in 2025, while May passenger numbers had already climbed by 20% year-on-year.

The company has also pointed to growing interest from UK holidaymakers, saying searches for “Jersey holiday” had risen by 21% over the past year.

Chris Parker, DFDS Route Director for Jersey, said the team were “very encouraged by the growth recorded on our Poole and St Malo services” in particular.

“These figures suggest that customers continue to value the choice, reliability and range of services we provide,” he added, “including high-speed connections to the UK and France alongside our conventional overnight service to Portsmouth.”

Inter-island talks

The latest figures come as ministers continue efforts to improve links with Guernsey after months of disagreement over proposals for an inter-island ferry service.

Asked by Deputy Max Andrews “whether he has any plans” for an inter-island ferry service and “how he intends to establish” one after the States of Guernsey rejected DFDS’s proposal, new Economic Development Minister Gerald Voisin did not comment specifically on sea travel but said he would be “seeking to engage” with Guernsey politicians to discuss how they “can improve inter-island connectivity”.

Meanwhile, his Guernsey counterpart, Deputy Sasha Kazansteva-Miller, has indicated her team would be willing to reopen travel connectivity negotiations, stating last month that, while there were no ongoing talks with the Government of Jersey, Guernsey politicians “are due to write to them imminently” to arrange further discussions.

DFDS has not released the total passenger numbers behind the percentage increases.