UK ferries lose out to no-frills
The UK ferry market has been dealt a double blow by the general malaise affecting the travel industry and increased competition from no-frills flights.
In the first five months of 2003, the number of UK ferry passengers travelling to the continent was down 8% from the same period last year to under 7.5 million. This is according to IRN Research, which compiles ferry statistics on a monthly basis for FerryStat.
In a statement IRN Research said: “The UK-Continent routes are worst affected, declining by 8% over this period as ferry companies continue to lose share to tunnel and particularly low-cost air operators.”
The routes between the UK and Republic of Ireland are down less significantly, by 0.6% to 1.2 million in the same period. Domestically UK ferry travel is up marginally by 3.9% to 14.5 million passengers between January and May.
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