100 per cent for sailings over the summer break

MEDIA RELEASE

23 January 2015

Interislander achieves 100 per cent for sailings over the summer break

Interislander ferries moved 128,279 passengers, 33,174 passenger vehicles and 4762 commercial vehicles over the Christmas and New Year holiday period with the three ferry services meeting 100 per cent of all scheduled sailings between 24 December 2014 and 19 January.

There were a total of 367 scheduled sailings for all three ferries between 24 December and 19 January, with the Arahura crossing Cook Strait 142 times, Aratere 147 times, and Kaitaki 78 times.

In addition, a total of 128,279 passengers sailed with Interislander during this period with 37,268 people travelling on the Arahura, 34,815 on the Aratere, and 56,196 people sailing on the Kaitaki.

There were also a total of 33,174 passenger vehicles that crossed the Cook Strait on Interislander’s ferries, at an average of over 1000 per day, with 4762 freight vehicles also making the crossing.

“The summer holiday period is one of the busiest times of the year for Interislander so to reach 100 percent for all scheduled sailings is a huge achievement and demonstrates that we operate a very reliable and efficient ferry service, says Group General Manager Operations, Iain Hill.

“Seventy percent of total annual passenger numbers travel between November and April and bookings are especially heavy when people are going to see family and friends for Christmas and go on holiday over the New Year break.

The weather around Cook Strait and Wellington and Marlborough was generally calm over the holiday period and this assisted with running the ferry operations smoothly.”

Mr Hill says that ferry services operate 24 hours, 365 day a year and it is important that Interislander not only meets expectations, but exceeds them, and we do everything we can to make sure people and their vehicles travel across Cook Strait when they are booked.

“Each ship undergoes regular maintenance checks to ensure their reliability. Engineering crews work around the clock to service and maintain the on-board systems so that the chances of any failures or interruption to scheduled sailings are minimised.

“After every scheduled service sailed during a very successful 2014-15 holiday period, Interislander will focus on continuing these high standards, and providing first-class ferry services to customers throughout the upcoming year,” says Mr Hill.

ENDS

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