Balearic Islands government pushes for resumption of ferry services as Spain eases Covid-19 lockdown

The government of Spain’s Balearic Islands region has begun lobbying for the resumption of passenger ferry services connecting Ibiza, Mallorca, and Menorca as the entire country prepares to enter the first phase of Covid-19 lockdown de-escalation on May 11.

The call for bringing the ferries back into service came after local officials pointed out that the easing of lockdown restrictions will mean citizens will once again require greater inter-island mobility.

The same officials expect that the sole daily commercial flight connecting the three islands will be inadequate in providing the necessary mobility since many residents rely on inter-island transport for their regular commute.

Limited ferry services recently resumed to and from Formentera, the smallest of the four main islands in the Balearics. Health and safety checks, including the use of PCR tests and questionnaires that passengers need to fill out, are being implemented more strictly on vessels serving the re-opened routes.

The resumption of ferry services in the rest of the Balearics remains subject to approval by the Spanish government through the Ministry of Development.

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