In response to COVID financial bite, BC Ferries reduces inter-island route service on Haida Gwaii

Reduced sailing options for the MV Kwuna on Haida Gwaii
are on the horizon starting tomorrow

Having spent a good portion of the last few years arguing for an increase in service for the travels of the MV Kwuna, those on Haida Gwaii have received word there will be a step backwards in service for the ferry which connects the residents of Graham and Moresby Islands.

In a Service Announcement released on Friday, the Haida Gwaii route was one of a number of runs that BC Ferries has announced service reductions on as it continues to feel the impact on revenues from the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the case of residents for Haida Gwaii, the 12:30 PM sailing from Aliford Bay and the 1 PM  departure from  Skidegate will be removed from service as of tomorrow.

click to enlarge

In May of this year, we reviewed how staffing shortages were going to impact on the level of service this Spring.

At the end of May, BC Ferries also announced the cancellations for a number of days in June affecting the final trip of the day between Skidegate and Alliford Bay you can review that Service notice here.

Last November we highlighted some of the frustrations that Islanders were having with the level of service provided by BC Ferries as well as some of the efforts that had been taken on to bring that concern to BC Ferries.

To this point. there have been no changes announced for the service between Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii and service south out of Prince Rupert to the Central Coast and Port Hardy, however heading towards the end of June, BC Ferries continues to operate on the Winter Schedule and the less frequent travel options that it provides for.

For more notes on marine transportation on the North and Central Coast as well as Haida Gwaii and Alaska see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.