Survey reveals scale of dissatisfaction with off-island travel

Friday, 27 March 2026 09:00

A new survey reveals just how dissatisfied Channel Islanders are with the cost and reliability of travelling off-island.

Island Global Research ran a satisfaction survey in Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man between 7 January and 1 February 2026.

Residents were asked how they feel about the cost, reliability and choice of destinations from their island.

They were also asked if they have confidence that travel links will meet the needs of people in the future.

The highest levels of satisfaction were with sea travel links in Guernsey and with the reliability of air travel in Jersey.

90% of Jersey respondents were dissatisfied with both the cost and reliability of sea travel.

By comparison, around 40% of Guernsey respondents were satisfied or very satisfied with their sea links, an improvement of between 17-20% on 2019 data.

It's the first such survey since the islands chose different operators to run ferries, with DFDS given the Jersey contract and Brittany Ferries the Guernsey contract in March 2025.

In Guernsey, the lowest levels of satisfaction were with cost of air travel (11%)

Across all three islands, less than half of respondents said they had a high level of confidence (70%) that off-island travel links will meet future needs.

Lindsay Jefferies, Managing Director of Island Global Research said the research shows people across the Crown Dependencies continue to have concerns:

"Guernsey’s sea travel performs comparatively well, but overall levels of satisfaction and confidence in future provision remain low.

"These findings highlight the need for ongoing investment, clear planning, and open communication to help ensure our islands stay well-connected and supported in the years ahead.”