Fred Olsen has announced today that the company will be laying off personnel and reducing the timetables on all routes from September to deal with the economic crisis and the high prices of fuel. This is part of a strategic plan intended to prepare the company for the hard times which it sees coming.

The press release said that Fred. Olsen S.A. is working on the hypothesis that economic activity is experiencing a significant stagnation, which will reduce demand on all routes, and which requires palliative measures to avoid a situation where the future of the company is in danger.

Amongst a range of measures, the most significant is the reduction of personnel, which will be achieved through a temporary suspension of work. Around 14% of the workforce will be affected. It appears that discussions with union representatives are currently place, no doubt in the hope that the majority of the suspensions will be voluntary.

In addition, from September, services will be "adapted to demand", though details are not yet available of what this precisely means.

Canarias24Horas

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that's terrible for the staff. we were surprised at how many staff there was on the fred olsen ferry to la gomera in july. very professional they were as well.

i did notice in july there was a fred olsen ferry just floating out at sea some days, obviously not in use.

Fred Olsen has issued a press release to announce the new timetable which will apply from 24 September. Crossings have been reduced "considerably", particularly those between San Sebastián de La Gomera and Los Cristianos.

According to the company, this new timetable meets demand, with a significant reduction in passenger and commercial traffic on the ferries over the last few months.

In the same press release, Fred Olsen also announced a reduction in the price of tickets from October thanks to reductions in fuel prices.

NEW TIMETABLE:

San Sebastián to Los Cristianos
The 10.30am ferry will no longer run at all, nor will the 6.30pm on Mon, Wed & Sat.

Daily crossings will be at 7.30am (8am on Sat and Sun), 1pm, the 4.30 crossing will now be at 5pm Mon to Sat only.

Los Cristianos to San Sebastián

The 9am daily ferry will be maintained, but the 1.30 ferry will only run on Thurs & Fri. Sat departure will be at 4pm, Sun at 2pm. The last daily ferry will depart at 7.30 instead of 8.30.

Canarias24Horas

__________________

Janet Anscombe Associates
The Tenerife Experts
for anyone living in or moving to Tenerife
Visit our website www.janetanscombe.com

they are probably reducing their prices because now that they save so much money on staff... i feel for the people who will lose their jobs because of the crisis.

This will hit La Gomera very hard, the company owns the restaurants that they take tourists to also.

People just manage to scratch a living on the island as it is.

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