Condor cuts passengers to bolster supply chain

Friday 13 March 2020

Condor Ferries has decided to cut passengers from one of its routes in a bid to supply more goods to the Channel Islands in response to the coronavirus outbreak.

No passengers will be able to travel from Portsmouth with Condor on board the Commodore Clipper over the next four weeks.

From next week, the Clipper will only carry unaccompanied goods only, which the ferry firm says is aimed at ensuring continuity of the supply chain to Guernsey and Jersey. 

Passengers and their vehicles booked on the Clipper over the period will be moved onto the Poole route.

Condor says it is also looking at providing additional freight resources as a back-up for the islands. 

Pictured: Condor's CEO Paul Luxon.

The company added that it is stepping up procedures across Guernsey, Jersey, Portsmouth and Saint Malo to ensure all freight is handled in a sterile way, involving no personal contact with customers in each location and enhanced ship-to-shore practices.

These are unprecedented times for our industry, so we are taking prudent measures to ensure lifeline freight services to the Islands are maintained,” Condor CEO Paul Luxon commented.

“It is crucial that all the right steps are taken and we are in direct and detailed dialogue with both the States of Guernsey and States of Jersey on this.

“We fully understand that the change may be inconvenient to some passengers but are working in the best interests of the Islands as a whole and feel this is the best option available to us.”

The news comes as reports of panic-buying sweep the islands.

Pictured: Empty shelves in Waitrose.

Supermarkets and pharmacies are selling out of supplies of hand sanitiser and soap, while supermarkets have also been hit particularly hard in their toilet roll departments.