Ferry tickets are soaring due to fuel

Her Anastasia Vamvaka

In a new, third increase in the price of passenger tickets for 2022, the ferry companies proceeded from last week on most lines, as the ever-increasing cost of fuel has boosted the operating cost of a ship to 70%. Compared to last year, ferry tickets to the Greek islands are up to 35% more expensive. Following the successive increases in international oil prices and the more than doubling of marine fuel prices, the shipping companies proceeded to another increase a few days ago, the third so far this year, while, if the increased international prices are maintained, another increase is expected. in early July.

What seems to be changing significantly this year is the cost of fuel, as the price of reduced sulfur fuel is still above 1,000 euros per tonne, when in the same period last year it was around 400 euros per tonne. Fuel costs, which in normal periods accounted for 30% -35% of operating costs of ships, with price increases from the fourth quarter of 2021 and throughout 2022, have now reached 60% -70% of operating costs of ships. Companies are looking to tackle the situation with ticket price increases to some extent. Of course, the increases in tickets are expected to affect the ferry traffic, which is expected to move 10% -20% lower compared to 2019, with the domestic market being affected much more.

Regarding the minor problems in the service of the islands, it seems that at the moment the problem is located in Folegandros, with representatives of the local government and tourism to note that the choice of a company to interrupt the direct route of its speedboat with Piraeus and its decision to serve the island through Milos (transfer) creates problems in tourist demand. Problems are also identified in Karpathos and Kos, due to delays in signing the required contracts and procedures, as the tender went to court, resulting in significant bureaucratic delays.

The increases

The new increases in ticket prices range from 5% to 10% on average, while it is noted that the previous increase was made in April 2022 and averaged 10% to 12%. However, the rate of increase is not horizontal, ie it varies depending on the route, the distance and whether the tickets concern passenger cars or trucks and passengers. With these data, however, a package of return tickets for a family of four with a car and a cabin on an island, which last year cost 600 euros, this year will cost more than 850 euros, travel agents explain. At the same time, the transport equivalent, the subsidy given by the State to the islanders and to the companies that operate in the island country for transport, has to be paid since last June.

From Piraeus to Naxos the individual ticket from 45.50 euros reached 48 euros, an increase of 5.49%, while for speedboats the individual ticket on the same line from 63.70 reached 67.40 euros. On the Piraeus-Rhodes line, the individual ticket from 82.50 euros was set at 86.50 euros, an increase of 4.85%. On the Piraeus-Patmos line from 50 euros the individual ticket was set at 52.50 euros, an increase of 4%, and on the Piraeus-Paros line from 44.50 euros the individual ticket is set at 46.50 euros. On the Piraeus-Milos line, the individual ticket from 43 euros is set at 45.50 euros. On the line Piraeus-Rhodes for four people with a car. the total ticket cost from 466.50 euros to 489.50 euros, an increase of 4.93%. On the Rafina-Mykonos line the individual ticket, from 35 euros, has now reached 38 euros, an increase of 8.57%, while on the Rafina-Tinos line the individual ticket from 32 euros has reached 35 euros, an increase of 9.38 %. Also on the Rafina-Andros line, the individual ticket from 23 euros rose to 25 euros, an increase of 8.70%.

ΣΕΕΝ

At the same time, according to the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, the debts of the State to the shipping companies for executed public service routes, also known as barren lines, of the previous years have again reached 60 million euros. Shipowners say they have so far absorbed much of the increase in fuel prices and that the increases in tickets are only marginal enough to prevent the damage from escalating to dangerous levels. The Association has submitted a package of proposals, such as the imposition of a mechanism to protect against excessive increases in the prices of marine fuels based on the average price of the previous period, the temporary reduction of VAT to 6%, the subsidy of employer contributions as in during the pandemic, the announcement of additional public service lines (since all lines have become de facto barren), the increase of rents by at least 30% for the existing barren lines, the temporary suspension of the mandatory discounts provided for different categories of passengers and the strengthening the liquidity of the sector with the immediate payment of most of the debts of the State.