March 23, 2026
BC Ferries enhances service to Horseshoe Bay–Langdale route
Summary
- Adding 120 additional shoulder-season sailings to improve access during periods of highest demand.
- Increasing reservable space to provide greater certainty on peak sailings while maintaining drive-up access.
- Expanding lower-cost Saver fares to improve affordability and make better use of available capacity.
VICTORIA, BC - Sunshine Coast residents travelling between Horseshoe Bay and Langdale now have access to more capacity, choice and affordable fares — improvements enabled by making the most effective use of existing service on this route and across the broader coastal ferry system.
BC Ferries is adding more than 120 additional sailings during the shoulder seasons (mid-May to late June and September to mid-October) on this route, including two additional late afternoon round trips when demand is highest: those departing Horseshoe Bay at 3:45 pm and 6:05 pm, with return sailings from Langdale at 4:55 pm and 7:15 pm.
“People rely on this route every day to get to work, appointments and to stay connected with family and community, and we know how frustrating it is when you can’t get on the sailing you need,” said Melanie Lucia, Vice President of Customer Experience at BC Ferries. “At the same time, there is available capacity across the day. Our focus is on improving certainty on the busiest sailings while making better use of that capacity so more people can travel.”
While two-ship service is already in place during the peak summer period, these additional sailings extend that level of service into the shoulder seasons when demand remains high on key sailings. Demand is often concentrated at specific times of day, with some sailings full while others have available space.
"These additional sailings are a meaningful step for our community, especially during the shoulder seasons when travel can be the most challenging,” said Silas White, Mayor of Gibsons. “We know there’s more work to do, including how we can better utilize data shared by BC Ferries to encourage more people onto sailings with available space. We’ll combine that with continued advocacy for the level of service Sunshine Coast residents need and keep working with BC Ferries to build toward longer-term solutions.”
BC Ferries is also increasing overall bookable space on the route to an average of 70% through the end of April, better reflecting how customers are travelling today. This helps more people secure peak sailings in advance while maintaining drive-up access on every sailing. It also means three times more of BC Ferries’ most affordable fares – Saver fares, that start at $39 — are available, helping shift some travel away from peak periods. This creates more space on the busiest sailings for customers who need to travel at those times.
Bookable space will always vary by sailing — higher on sailings with lower expected drive-up demand, and lower where demand for drive-up space is strongest. Last summer, over 40% of customers on this route travelled with a reservation booked in advance, and reservable space often sold out — sometimes weeks ahead — reflecting strong demand for travel certainty on peak sailings. At the same time, overall capacity utilization on Route 3 was 63%, indicating an opportunity to better align how space is allocated between advance bookings and drive-up travel.
The change to reservation allocations does not generate additional revenue on its own — it is the more effective use of available capacity that improves overall performance for the route. Sailings with unused space are less efficient to operate, so better aligning bookings with demand helps make the most of existing service.
Together, these changes have considered route data and feedback from customers, local governments and community members, and align with findings from the recent BC Ferry Commission review, which highlighted strong demand on the route, cost pressures and the need for practical, long-term solutions. The additional sailings are cost-neutral and enabled through system-wide adjustments, supported by improved travel demand data from advance bookings.
BC Ferries will continue to monitor travel patterns and customer feedback as these changes are introduced. This work will inform its next submission to the BC Ferry Commissioner for the performance term beginning in 2028, where service levels and investment decisions are assessed across the coastal ferry system.
“Improving how this route performs today is an important step in informing future service decisions,” added Lucia. “We know there is strong interest in expanded service, but as the Commissioner noted, it’s essential to first make the most of the capacity that exists today. Any future changes will need to be considered within the broader system to ensure they are sustainable.”
BC Ferries will continue working with the Sunshine Coast community, local governments and the Province, while applying these learnings across the coastal ferry system to ensure service decisions are balanced and sustainable for all communities.
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