BC Ferries will see no change to the cost of taking a ferry for first time in 13 years, the average fares will remain effectively unchanged as the company starts the new fiscal year on April 1, 2016.
Passengers will see no change to the cost of taking a ferry thanks to the benefit of low fuel prices offsetting the annual fare increase of 1.9%. The company stated that both the price cap increase approved by the Commissioner, as well as an increase in the fuel rebate will be implemented on April 1, 2016, effectively cancelling each other out for a zero per cent net increase to fares.
“With the continued decline in cost of diesel oil coupled with the fact we’ve locked in the price for the majority of our fuel, we are pleased to be in a position to increase the fuel rebate which will negate the tariff increase for all of our customers,” said Dennis Dodo, BC Ferries’ Chief Financial Officer. “Given the current price of fuel on world markets, we expect to maintain a fuel rebate for the foreseeable future.”
The rebound in BC Ferries’ traffic numbers also continues. Since April 2015, both vehicle traffic and passenger traffic are up by about 4% compared to the same period the year before.
