BC Ferries says the fiscal year that ended March 31, 2018 saw the highest levels of vehicle traffic ever carried by the company’s fleet. It also saw a 20-year high in passenger numbers.
Overall there was a five per cent increase in vehicle traffic over the 2017 fiscal year, and a 4.7 per cent increase in passenger traffic.
On the Sunshine Coast routes, BC Ferries said it carried 1,192,000 vehicles, an increase of 3.87 per cent, and 2,726,825 passengers, up 3.43 per cent, on the Langdale-Horseshoe Bay run.
On the Earls Cove-Saltery Bay route, the increases were bigger than the average for the system. Vehicle numbers were up 6.59 per cent to 187,143 and passenger traffic increased 5.87 per cent to 363,217.
The BC Ferries year-end results, which were released earlier this week, show consolidated net earnings of $59.9 million. Revenues for fiscal 2018 increased $39.7 million to $899 million, primarily due to higher traffic levels and retail sales.
“Strong financial results are essential for us to improve the customer experience in a variety of ways. This performance helps us to increase service, invest in new vessels and terminal infrastructure, offer discounts and minimize borrowing,” said Mark Collins, president and CEO, in a release announcing the results.
“Robust earnings allow us to operate a sustainable coastal ferry system that will serve our customers for generations to come. We also use net earnings to deliver an improving customer experience with modernized information technology systems and more environmentally-friendly ships.”
Although fares were reduced 15 per cent on all routes except the three linking the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island on April 1, BC Ferries recently announced the end of the fuel rebate as of June 27. That will add around $1.35 for a vehicle fare and 40 cents for passengers on the Langdale run.
