This new ferry link marks a reopening of a regular route that last ran forty years ago. The inauguration in early December launched the "Punta Europa 2" a catamaran which will cover the Gibraltar Strait ferry crossing in just 40 minutes.
The inaugural voyage crossed from Algeciras to the Rock of Gibraltar and carried a contingent from the United Kingdom, Gibraltar and Spain showing that the three gvoernments can and do work together at times.
The Deputy Chief Minister said that "the concept of low cost travel combined with quality and regular trips will make it work."
The route which was officially opened to the public on Thursday 17th December at 11.30am for the first of its five return trips a day. Each 40 minute leg will cost eight euros as a single journey and 14 euros for a return ticket.
The ferry which is operated by Transcoma has the capacity to carry 150 passengers. Plans are under way for a package deal ticket to include bus transport from the port in Algeciras to some of the larger commercial centres.
The company also have plans to create a new ferry route to link Algeciras to La Linea de la Concepcion further along the Southern Spanish coast.
For holidaymakers to the Rock of Gibraltar the ferry route offers another attraction, a day trip to Morocco is now an easier journey.
Ferry crossings across to the North African Coast
- Tarifa – Tangier
- Alcegiras – Ceuta
- Gibraltar – Tangier
- Malaga – Melilla
- Almeria - Melilla
Cadiz also has a ferry service that runs once a week to the Canary Islands.
Ryanair’s New Base in Malaga
With an investment of more than 170 million euro the airline is to setup a new hub in Malaga. This means that four planes with be based there and nineteen new routes will be created. This will bring the number of routes from Malaga airport to thirty-nine.
Four of the new routes are internal ones to Santiago de Compostela, Santander, Valladolid and Zaragoza. These new routes along with the new base are due to begin in June 2010. This will create 200 new jobs to serve the 360 flights a week.
To read more about a holiday in Gibraltar read Gibraltar Holiday - What to See and Do. or The Pillars of Hercules.
Or to read more about Southern Spain see Andalucia for Holidays.
Rachel L. Webb - Rachel L Webb lives in and writes mainly about Andalucia. She enjoys exploring the region and shares her explorations through her website ...
