Guernsey overtakes Jersey as the most popular Channel Island for sea travel from the UK

• Guernsey secures 55% of all UK-Channel Islands‘ ferry passengers April to October
• Market share UK-Guernsey for October increased to 57%
• UK-Guernsey routes surpasses UK-Jersey for the first time
• Brittany Ferries carried 36,472 more passengers between Saint Malo and Guernsey from April to October 2025 versus 2024

The success of Brittany Ferries’ services last summer has seen Guernsey’s market share of ferry passengers from the UK to the Channel Islands exceed 50% for the first time.

According to data produced by IRN Ferry, an independent travel research company for the ferry industry, 112,255 passengers travelled between Portsmouth and Poole to Guernsey from April to October this year, compared with 92,023 to Jersey from the same two ports. This sees Guernsey capture 55% share of the total Channel Islands’ market by sea from the UK. Figures for October see a further change in favour of Guernsey, of 57% compared to 43% to Jersey.

These milestones follows Brittany Ferries’ September announcement that overall carryings to Guernsey had increased by almost a third since its contract with the States came into effect in April.

Christophe Mathieu, Chief Executive of Brittany Ferries, commented:
“We have seen a fantastic first summer and a consistent growth over the full seven months, which is all the more remarkable when you consider the respective populations of both Islands. For the Bailiwick of Guernsey to have welcomed well over half of all UK visitors by sea to the Channel Islands, is a credit to everyone involved.”

Brittany Ferries also reported strong growth on its France-Guernsey services. The company transported 99,325 passengers from April to October 2025 to Saint Malo, an increase of 36,472 over last year.

Mr Mathieu concluded: “After a successful first season, we are excited to look ahead and see how we can make our services even better. One of our next initiatives is to bring the Islands of the Bailiwick closer together by teaming up with the local ferry operators to offer through-services from the UK and France.”