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The announcement that Alderney Ferry Services Ltd is launching a Cherbourg link has been met with universal positivity.
The firm revealed the news late in December.
"We are thrilled to announce that from May next year we will be offering regular day trips plus the option to do a period return to and from Cherbourg," said Alderney Ferry Services.
The service will only be available to passengers with a valid passport or French ID cards, with schedules due to be published early this year.
"We have been working on this to provide the opportunity to have better access into Europe for the residents of Alderney but also allowing the same for passengers from Europe to get to Alderney directly," said the ferry firm.
Alderney States Member Alex Snowdon was among those pleased to read this news, describing it as "exciting".
He told Express that the Cherbourg route will be "really good" for both Alderney residents wanting connections to France and beyond, and also for visitors coming to Alderney to experience all the island has to offer.
Mr Snowdon is also hopeful that there may one day be a direct Jersey link with Alderney.
Exciting news, french connection for Alderney.
— Alex Snowdon (@AlexSnowdon5) December 30, 2023
Well done Alderney Ferry Services, important routes being established again.
Thank you to all involved, hopefully a successful route for visitors and residents. pic.twitter.com/clXfIcwPQm
The newly confirmed Cherbourg service is going to be "very important" for Alderney said Mr Snowdon, who is positive that the venture will bring more visitors to the island from France.
"It's also going to be really good for Alderney residents to go further afield than Guernsey," he said. "We know Cherbourg, it has some nice offerings and good connections.
"It's also important that air transport is a priority, especially this time of year when the boats can't go," he added. "Any additional routes should be welcomed whether it by boat or air, we need to establish any links we can."
With Alderney now having direct connections during the spring and summer months to Guernsey, the UK and France, Mr Snowdon remains hopeful that the island will one day have a Jersey link too.
"It is unfortunate that there isn't a Jersey link," he said. "It's a 'hoohah' going via Guernsey for us and for visitors from Jersey wanting to come here. It's a barrier to them.
"If we can establish a summer link to Jersey it would only be beneficial. The Channel Islands are stronger together. We should be expanding and exploring connections to Jersey it's too off-putting going via Guernsey so a direct link would unlock Jersey for us. And bring visitors here."
Alderney Ferry Services Limited launched in 2022 offering "a lifeline regular ferry service for passengers" between Alderney and Guernsey.
It uses the 'Causeway Explorer’ to run daily crossings between the islands between March and October, with its newer vessel, the 'Sorcerer II', intended to serve the existing island routes as well as the new Cherbourg services.
Sorcerer II is a Lochin 40 Sports Fisherman, while the Causeway Explorer is a Cygnus Cyfish 38.
The news of its new direct sailings to Cherbourg was equally well received by members of the public who described it as "excellent" and "wonderful" news.
The team at Alderney Serenity, which offers holistic therapies in the island, commented that the new French link was "brilliant" for the island while Agnes Perry called it "the news we were all hoping for".
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