Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària are stepping up their service on the route between the Canary Islands and Huelva by adding a fourth weekly connection between the Huelva port and Santa Cruz de Tenerife. From 15th July to 18th September, the ferry companies will offer an extra departure to cater for the high demand expected during the summer period, both for passengers and freight transport between the Canaries and the mainland.
The route is operated by the ferry Sicilia, which has a capacity of 1,000 passengers and 400 vehicles, and the ferry Marie Curie, which can accommodate over 800 passengers and 600 vehicles. Starting from 15th July, sailings from Huelva will take place on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, heading to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, except for the Wednesday service, which only connects to Tenerife. From the islands, there will be one departure on Sundays and Mondays, and two on Thursdays from Tenerife.
Juan Ignacio Liaño, the fleet director of Fred. Olsen Express, notes that “in 2024, this additional weekly journey allowed us to meet the high summer demand, so we are reintroducing this trip this year to adapt to the needs of our passengers and our connection with the mainland.”
Georges Bassoul, the general manager of Baleària, highlights that “the addition of a fourth weekly service also responds to the increased demand for freight transport in the Canaries, a crucial market for Baleària.”
Six Years of Strategic Alliance for Connecting Mainland and Canary Islands from Huelva
The service between the mainland and the Canary Islands, operated by Fred. Olsen Express and Baleària for over six years, showcases this strategic alliance for maritime connection between the islands and the mainland. Since its inception, the connection has transported more than two million linear metres of cargo and nearly 250,000 passengers between Huelva and the Canary Islands, establishing a key route for freight transport. Among the services provided by the two vessels covering this route are cabins, dining, and pet facilities.
About Fred. Olsen Express
Fred. Olsen Express is the leading ferry company in the Canary Islands, having ensured inter-island connectivity for over 50 years. Since its first voyage in 1974 with the Ferry Gomera, between San Sebastián de La Gomera and Los Cristianos in Tenerife, the company remains committed to the development of maritime transport in the archipelago. It is known for providing a service with state-of-the-art vessels, focusing on comfort, punctuality, speed, and flexibility.
Dedicated to generating prosperity within the Canary community, it employs nearly 1,000 people. Currently, Fred. Olsen Express operates a fleet of eight high-speed ferries, three mini ferries, and two cargo vessels for freight transport, connecting the archipelago across seven islands. It runs seven inter-island routes and a coastal route in southern La Gomera. Additionally, it links the Canary Islands with the mainland through the connection from Gran Canaria and Tenerife to Huelva.
Fred. Olsen Express is a leader in the inter-island market, averaging 22,500 journeys per year and transporting over 3.7 million people annually, along with 66,000 pets, 1,000,000 cars, and 1,300,000 linear metres of cargo, equivalent to around 100,000 freight vehicles. Since its founding, more than 89 million passengers have relied on the company.
In alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and the Canary Islands Sustainable Development Agenda 2030, Fred. Olsen Express, through its ‘In Harmony with the Sea’ programme, integrates innovation in all its processes to minimise its environmental footprint.
