May 12, 2026
Expanded advance bookings and terminal improvements between Powell River and Comox expected to reduce congestion, improve travel certainty
Summary:
- BC Ferries is expanding advance booking options on the Powell River–Comox route this June with the aim of reducing congestion and enhancing travel certainty for customers during peak periods.
- Customers will continue to be able to travel without a reservation, with drive-up space maintained on every sailing.
- BC Ferries is significantly expanding lower-cost travel options on the route, with more than 25,000 Saver fares this summer, including under-height vehicle Saver fares starting from $39, new over-height vehicle Saver fares and a limited time promotion offering free travel for children aged 11 and under on Prepaid and Saver bookings until October 14, 2026.
VICTORIA, BC – BC Ferries is introducing expanded advance booking and lower fare options on the Powell River– Comox route this June with the aim of reducing congestion and providing customers with greater certainty as travel demand on the route continues to grow.
The changes follow recent terminal improvements at Little River and are designed to improve traffic flow and make better use of available sailing capacity throughout the day – particularly during peak travel periods, when customers are increasingly experiencing long waits, congestion and difficulty securing space. Last year, there were almost 5,000 sailings where customers were left behind because demand was higher than capacity, causing delays in their travel and continued congestion at the terminal.
To support the transition and keep traffic flowing smoothly, BC Ferries has increased staffing levels at both terminals and installed a new staging lane at Little River. This lane will be dedicated to drive-up traffic, with advance bookings being staged separately. New signage will be installed to clearly designate the lanes.
“Travel demand on this route has grown significantly in recent years, particularly during peak periods when sailings fill quickly and terminals become congested.” said Brian Anderson, Vice President of Strategy and Planning at BC Ferries. “This route is an essential connection for many people travelling for work, medical appointments, family care, and daily life, and our goal is to reduce congestion and improve travel certainty while maintaining flexibility for the customers that rely on this route every day.”
Demand on the route has increased significantly in recent years, driven by population growth in the Comox Valley and qathet Regional District. Since 2019, traffic on the route has increased by approximately 25 per cent, while advance bookings for the route have increased by more than 320 per cent and drive-up travel has declined by five per cent.
The current balance between reservations and drive-up traffic is contributing to congestion, inconsistent loading, and customers missing sailings when they need them most.
“On the busiest sailings, fewer spaces will be available for advance bookings to help maintain balance between reserved and drive-up traffic,” added Anderson. “On less busy sailings, more advance booking space and Saver fares will be available to encourage customers with flexibility to travel at those times and benefit from lower fares and greater travel certainty. Drive-up space will continue to be available on every sailing. This approach is designed to better balance advance bookings and drive-up travel, reduce pressure at terminals, and improve how available capacity is used throughout the day. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach across the ferry system, and these changes reflect the specific operational pressures and travel patterns we’re seeing on this route.”
Similar changes on other routes have helped to reduce congestion, better utilize sailing capacity, and encourage more customers to plan ahead during peak travel periods.
Expanding advance booking capacity also allows BC Ferries to offer significantly more lower-cost Saver fares on the route than was previously possible. By encouraging more travel on less busy sailings, the approach helps reduce pressure during peak periods while creating more affordable travel options for customers who can plan ahead.
BC Ferries expects to offer five times more Saver fares, with over 25,000 available on the route during the high season, including:
- Under-height vehicle and driver Saver fares starting from $39 on select sailings
- Standard over-height vehicle Saver fares for $59 on select sailings, plus savings of 50% off per additional foot over 20 feet
- $9 foot passenger Saver fares on select sailings
- Limited time promotion, until Oct. 14, 2026, for free travel for children aged 11 and under on Prepaid and Saver bookings on all sailings
At least 10 per cent of reservable space on every sailing will be available at the $59 Saver price point.
The changes also build on the recent introduction of booking alerts and sailing waitlists on the route. More than 6,900 customers have signed up for booking alerts between Powell River and Comox, while more than 525 customers have joined sailing waitlists since April.
Reservation uptake, sailing utilization, and customer feedback will continue to be monitored as the changes roll out.