Norfolkline gears up for a Ferry Busy Summer

Norfolkline Irish Sea has reported a significant increase in car and passenger bookings since the Icelandic Volcanic eruption in April and the recent developments which have caused the cancellation of more than one thousand flights to and from UK and Irish airports.

With the strong possibility of further disruption and the uncertainty of getting away on flights, the travelling public is voting with its feet. Norfolkline is gearing up for a very busy summer as it has observed a change in customer behaviors, with many more people opting for the reliability of ferry transport to holiday destinations in Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.

The initial surge in business was a direct result of the cancellation of the vast majority of flights in UK and Irish airspace, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, but Norfolkline is recording an ongoing increase in enquiries and bookings on the Irish Sea routes, both into and out of Ireland, which many passengers confirm is due to the uncertainty of air traffic disruption.

Over the period from 15th April 2010 to 21st April, Norfolkline saw a 20% increase in its online bookings. Visits to Norfolkline’s website increased by 50% and calls to the contact centre went up by 57%.
 
Feedback from customers making reservations for the coming weeks and the summer season show that many are now choosing the security of ferry travel.
 
The reliability and ease of travel make ferry travel very attractive. Bookings can be made on the internet at www.norfolkline.com and passengers on all Norfolkline’s ships can enjoy the excellent onboard facilities, with the latest movie releases in the cinema, bright and spacious bars and lounges, friendly restaurant or a relaxing fully equipped en-suite cabin.

Poul Woodall, Route Director, Norfolkline Irish Sea Operations, commented, “I am very proud of all our staff who have been working so hard to help thousands of travellers get home to their families through these difficult times. In response to the increased demand for our services, we brought in additional staff and resources to cope with the unprecedented demand.”
 
Continuing, Mr. Woodall added, “Our ships were sailing with full capacity, and even though our online booking system and call centre were under severe pressure, customer feedback has been very positive and we were pleased that all port and onboard staff worked tirelessly to help people reach their destinations.”