CalMac’s Fionnphort to Iona ferry route increased its passenger numbers by more than half last year, compared to 2021.
The ferry carried a whopping 204,623 foot passengers in 2022, seeing an increase of 52.79 per cent on the previous 12 months.
Other routes from Oban and Mull also experienced increases – although the Oban – Coll/Tiree/Castlebay route bore a slight decrease in passengers.
A CalMac spokeswoman said: “Passenger numbers are showing steady growth and are on course to surpass the highs of 2019. In the period from January to December 2022, passenger numbers were some of the strongest we’ve seen in recent years and are indicative of strong recovery following a global pandemic.”
In 2022, the Oban – Craignure route carried 550,517 passengers, 159,254 more than the year before. However the number of commercial vehicles had dropped by 581 to 6,299.
Oban – Castlebay/Lochboisdale carried 3,865 more passengers last year than the 42,396 it totalled in 2021.
Gallanach to Kerrera had a footfall of 64,009 passengers compared to the 55,406 people it ferried in 2021.
The Kennacraig – Islay/C’say/Oban route carried 18,216 passengers, 3,337 more than figures the year before.
Oban – Coll/Tiree/Castlebay route’s passenger numbers stood at 5,072 and were down on the previous years by just 94 passengers.
Oban – Colonsay’s 2022 passenger total was 12,664 , carrying 1,204 more than the year before.
The Tobermory – Kilchoan ferry transported 44,361 passengers, 6,117 more than 2021.
Oban – Lismore car ferry took 24,807 people on the crossings, 2,597 more than the previous year.
You can see more information on the 2022 statistics, including car numbers, online here: www.calmac.co.uk/corporate/carrying-statistics-annual