Outrage over Malta-Gozo fast ferry schedule for October

The two Malta-Gozo fast ferry operators Virtu Ferries Gozo and GozoFast Ferry presented a radically reduced October schedule on Friday.

Weekday trips will be reduced to five starting from Mġarr/Gozo and four departures from Valletta. There will be only four departures from each terminal on Saturdays and Sundays.

There are no fast ferry trips scheduled after 5pm on weekdays, and no weekend trips later than 6pm. Many Gozitan workers won’t find a return journey after office hours.

In September, the companies operated up to 14 daily trips from Mġarr/Gozo and up to 13 daily trips from Valletta.

The announcement of the updated schedule triggered outrage on social media, especially among Gozitan workers and students.

Gozo associations: ‘Timetable defeats purpose’

The Association for Gozitan Employees in Malta said the schedule was “totally absurd” and announced to speak up on behalf of Gozitan commuters.

“We were promised an improved service that really caters for Gozitan workers who commute daily”, the association said.

The Gozo Business Chamber also expressed dissatisfaction, saying such timetable “defeats both the scope and the original purpose for which this service was introduced”.

The Gozitan University Group said it was “deeply disappointed” with the new schedule.

KSU President Alexandra Gaglione asked what  Gozitan students would do now after evening lectures.

Ministry announces public service contract

On Friday evening, the government announced it has offered a two-year €12 million public service contract to the fast ferry operators.

The two-year service contract would bind operators to maintain a schedule “in line with people’s needs” as well as fix prices, once authorised by the European Commission.

Meanwhile, commuters expressed their anger over the imminently upcoming schedule on the social media channels of both fast ferry operators.