BC Ferries anticipates busy summer as demand grows and pressures rise

As BC Ferries prepares for another busy summer season, the company has provided a detailed breakdown on how they are preparing to keep up with demand. 

The company expects that this summer season’s demand will exceed last year’s record levels. 

Much of their anticipated increase in demand stems from major events such as the FIFA World Cup 2026.

BC Ferries says that last summer, their vessels carried 10.3 million passengers and 4.1 million vehicles. Those numbers are expected to increase again this peak season. 

As most of this ferry travel occurs at peak periods, the company is attempting to manage how available capacity is used across the system.

The company says that preparing for peak season takes months to coordinate, and includes anticipating vessel refits, maintenance, crew planning and customer experience improvements. 

“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.”

BC Ferries says they have completed refits on 22 vessels, conducted regular maintenance on all 37 vessels and now has the entire fleet in operation for the summer.

Furthermore, they have introduced earlier staffing and training, hired over 630 seasonal employees, adjusted schedules and added 1,800 additional round-trips for the summer, expanded reservation capabilities on a number of routes and increased availability of Saver fares on less busy sailings. 

They have also rolled out sailing alerts on five routes, and launched 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.” 

Should any major service disruptions occur, such as a ship going out of commission, BC Ferries has published a detailed Summer Service Contingency Plan. 

The plan outlines preparations, how they will respond and what customers can expect in the event of a service disruption. 

BC Ferries’ summer schedule officially starts on June 11th, which is two weeks earlier than previous years.