BC Ferries predicts summer travel demand 'could well break new records'
BC Ferries says its internal research is showing strong demand for vehicle traffic this summer, which could lead to a record-breaking season.
BC Ferries CEO Mark Collins says traffic is already on the rise, with volumes hitting "at or above levels that we saw pre-pandemic."
"We think passengers will be down slightly compared to pre-pandemic, so maybe not a record there," he told CTV News on Thursday.
"But it looks like vehicular traffic could well break new records this summer."
Collins says a large factor in that estimate is pent-up demand.
Some ferry travellers that CTV News spoke with on Thursday were more skeptical, however.
"I kind of doubt it with high gas prices," said traveller John Jensen.
BC Ferries has also faced service challenges throughout the pandemic due to staffing shortages.
"It's going to suck to try to get anywhere without a reservation," said ferry passenger Tom Houson.
The BC Ferries Swartz Bay terminal is shown: July 13, 2020 (CTV News)
STAFF SHORTAGE
Collins says BC Ferries has hired about 850 new workers since January, and that the company is looking to hire roughly 160 more to prepare for the summer season.
"We look internally first," he said. "We develop, we train, we put a lot of investment into our people and try and grow from within."
Eric McNeely, president of the BC Ferry and Marine Workers' union, says it's hard to find skilled workers.
"Competition is fierce out there," he said, noting that prospective workers are weighing the hours of work required and salaries being offered.
"Some of the locations are hard to hire into," he added. "Salt Spring Island, Gibsons."
BC Ferries says it's working hard to hire more employees and is offering a new signing bonus of up to $10,000 for some senior positions.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6860110.1713975895!/httpImage/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.jpg)
Poilievre will do 'anything to win,' must condemn Alex Jones endorsement: Trudeau
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is ramping up his attacks on Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre as he promotes his government's federal budget.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
Ukraine uses long-range missiles secretly provided by U.S. to hit Russian-held areas, officials say
Ukraine for the first time has begun using long-range ballistic missiles provided secretly by the United States, bombing a Russian military airfield in Crimea last week and Russian forces in another occupied area overnight, American officials said Wednesday.
New evidence challenges the Pentagon's account of a horrific attack as the U.S. withdrew from Afghanistan: CNN exclusive
New video evidence uncovered by CNN significantly undermines two Pentagon investigations into an ISIS-K suicide attack outside Kabul airport, during the American withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
All Alberta wildfires to date in 2024 believed to be human-caused: province
There are 63 wildfires burning in Alberta's forest protection area as of Wednesday morning and seven mutual aid fires, including one in the Municipal District of Peace.
7 surveillance videos linked to extortions of South Asian home builders in Edmonton released
The Edmonton Police Service has released a number of surveillance videos related to a series of extortion cases in the city now dubbed 'Project Gaslight.'
Suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery caught on video
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
Pilot proposes to flight attendant girlfriend in front of passengers
A Polish pilot proposed to his flight attendant girlfriend during a flight from Warsaw to Krakow, and she said yes.