The Island Councillor for Transport, Albert Prats, confirmed on Monday that he was investigating the possible abuse of prices of the ferry companies running routes to the mainland from Ibiza. In a statement which he made as he left the regular meeting with the various transport companies on the island, Prats claimed he had received a number of complaints from members of the public about the cost of the ferry trips, adding that nearly all of them were well founded. He said he had brought up the subject during the meeting, at which the directors of the companies were present, but they chose to remain silent, a response he found suspicious.
The routes to Valencia and Denia are now run solely by Balearia, after Acciona, which runs a Barcelona ferry, decided to give up this route. Since then Prats believes there has been a steady rise in prices which has now got out of control.
According to Balearia’s website last week a single journey from Denia to Ibiza cost €150, without the resident’s discount. Similarly a single journey to the same port with the residents discount included, for a passenger and a car cost €186, prices Prats believes are far too high, especially for this time of the year.
The councillor was clear to point out that he was not accusing the companies of any wrongdoing at the moment, but simply an investigation would be carried out, with the help of the Balearic Government, to see if the recent rise in prices is justified.
