Ten-year inter-island passenger numbers revealed

The number of passengers travelling between the Channel Islands has reduced between 2016 and 2025, figures have shown.

In response to a written question, Minister for Sustainable Economic Development, Deputy Kirsten Morel, said in 2016, 76,004 people travelled by sea, while 103,056 travelled by air. In 2025, there were 53,789 inter-island passengers and 67,900 air users.

He said it should be noted, the figures, prior to the DFDS service, included Guernsey to St Malo ferry passengers who transited via Jersey.

He said "passengers were required to disembark in Jersey to enter the Common Travel Area before continuing their journey and were therefore captured within the inter-island totals".

Morel said as a result, historic inter-island sea passenger numbers included transit movements as well as direct Jersey to Guernsey passengers.

The highest amount of inter-island passengers was in 2024 with 92,091 by sea and in 2019 with 104,489 by air.

There was a clear drop in numbers over the Covid-19 pandemic with just 4,609 people travelling by sea in 2020 and 17,742 by air.

The written question was submitted on 23 February and answered on 2 March.

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