For Immediate Release
May 13, 2026
BC Ferries prepares for a busy summer as demand grows and system pressures are expected to continue
Summary:
- Summer schedules will begin on June 11, two weeks earlier than in previous years.
- Demand continues to grow and it’s expected to be another record-breaking summer for travel, with the FIFA.
- Customers are encouraged to plan ahead, book early, and travel during off-peak times where possible.
VICTORIA, BC — BC Ferries is preparing for another busy summer season, with demand expected to exceed last year’s record levels as customers travel for work, essential services, and long-planned trips — alongside anticipated increases in tourism and travel activity associated with major events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026™.
Last summer, BC Ferries carried 10.3 million passengers and 4.1 million vehicles and those numbers are expected to increase again this peak season, with demand increasingly concentrated at peak times. This anticipated strong demand for ferry travel, particularly during peak periods, reflects the need to carefully manage how available capacity is used across the system.
Preparing for peak season is a months-long, system-wide effort that brings together vessel refits and maintenance, crew planning, and customer experience improvements to prepare for the busiest time of year.
“For many people, ferry travel is not optional — it’s how they get to work, access healthcare, connect with family, and move goods,” said Brian Anderson, Vice President of Strategy and Planning. “We anticipate that demand for ferry travel will continue to grow, especially during peak season when the system is under the most pressure. Our focus is on delivering reliable service with the fleet and capacity we have today, while planning for the additional vessels needed to support expected future demand.”
In preparation for peak season, BC Ferries has:
- Completed refits on 22 vessels (up from 21 last year), including work carried out at local BC shipyards as well as 15 refits completed at BC Ferries’ own facility
- Completed regular maintenance on all 37 vessels and brought the entire fleet into operation for the summer
- Introduced earlier staffing and training to align with an earlier start to BC Ferries’ summer schedule, including hiring for over 630 seasonal employees to support service delivery and reduce the risk of crewing-related cancellations
- Adjusted schedules and added 1,800 additional round-trips throughout the peak season
- Extended two-ship service for travel between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale and added more than 120 additional sailings during the shoulder seasons (mid-May to late June and September to mid-October), including two additional late afternoon round-trips when demand is highest
- Expanded reservation availability on a number of routes, to create more travel certainty for those customers who can plan ahead — reflecting the fact that most customers now choose to book in advance when travelling during peak periods
- Increased availability of Saver fares on less busy sailings, with 425,000 Saver fares available across five routes this peak season starting from $39, helping encourage travel during off-peak periods and make better use of available capacity across the system
- Enhanced customer tools, including rolling out sailing alerts on five routes, and launching an online booking waitlist for travel between Comox and Powell River
“We know how frustrating it is for our customers when sailings are delayed or cancelled, and that’s exactly why all these preparations matter,” said Melanie Lucia, Vice President of Customer Experience. “It’s the work we do in the months leading up to peak season to prepare the fleet, strengthen operations, and be ready to minimize the impact of disruptions and respond when they do happen. We’re heading into peak season ready and realistic, focused on delivering reliable service and supporting customers with clear, timely information and delivering the best possible experience during busy travel periods.”
“I also want to recognize our teams across the organization,” added Lucia. “This is a system-wide effort, and our people show up every day to support customers and keep service moving, including during challenging conditions.”
BC Ferries’ summer schedule is starting on June 11, two weeks earlier than in previous years. The summer schedule start was moved up to better support anticipated demand and projections for a busier travel season. BC Ferries has also added sailings on key travel days, boosted security presence, increased night-shift staffing and added to the number of available ticket booths to keep traffic flowing smoothly. Traffic control plans have also been developed, and BC Ferries has worked closely with transit partners to align schedules to keep people moving.
To help communities and customers understand how BC Ferries can respond in the event of any service disruptions, a detailed Summer Service Contingency Plan has been published, outlining preparations, planned response and what customers can expect. The plan focuses on operational recovery, customer communication and service mitigation strategies.
Behind the scenes, BC Ferries has completed one of the most intensive refit and maintenance periods in recent years to prepare the fleet for peak demand. This included 15 refits completed at BC Ferries’ Fleet Maintenance Unit along with work on seven other vessels completed at B.C. shipyards.
Seasonal hiring and training have also been moved up this year to support the earlier start to summer service, with frontline teams preparing for higher volumes, more complex travel days, and an increase in first-time and international travellers.
BC Ferries is also closely monitoring global fuel price volatility and is actively reviewing the need to implement a temporary fuel surcharge in the near term. Any decision would be made in accordance with the established regulatory framework and communicated publicly in advance.
BC Ferries operates 37 vessels across 25 routes and 47 terminals, spanning more than 1,600 kilometres of coastline. During peak season, the full system is in service, which limits flexibility to respond to unexpected disruptions or sudden spikes in demand. Without new capacity in the short-term, BC Ferries continues to focus on making the most of the system in place.
Customers travelling this summer are encouraged to plan ahead, book early, travel during off-peak times where possible, walk on where possible or take advantage of the BC Ferries Connector coach bus service and allow extra time during busy periods.
For media: Please see the Operational Readiness backgrounder for more about what we’re doing to serve customers better this summer or view recent b-roll footage.
We look forward to welcoming you on board this summer and connecting you with the people and places you love.