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Ferry fares in Greece set for up to 15% hikes

Passengers in Greece can expect a 10% to 12% hike or an average up to 15% in ferry ticket prices, driven by new EU environmental regulations aimed at curbing emissions in the Mediterranean Sea.

The increases will apply to passenger fares and vehicle transport and reflect higher costs associated with carbon and sulfur emissions control.

According to media, the hikes are expected to go into effect as of 1. May 2025.

Industry experts caution that operators cannot absorb the additional financial burden, citing mounting expenses from carbon emission permits, pricier low-sulfur fuel, and investments in green technologies.

Shipping executives note that businesses are operating on razor-thin margins, adding that ticket price increases are inevitable.

It is also expected that approximately 2% of the increases in seafarers’ salaries will be passed on to the ticket after the signing of the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, which provides for a 5% increase, protothema reported.

The President of the Association of Passenger Shipping Companies, Dionysis Theodoratos, regarding ticket prices, stated that “the coastal ferry ticket is expensive because, in addition to the fuel part (which constitutes 47% of the ship’s operating cost), there is also the wage cost, the cost of spare parts, repairs, etc.”

Decline in Passengers’ Traffic

The ETS (Emission Trading System) and SECA (Sulfur Emissions Control Areas) regulations are currently applied to routes serving Crete and the Adriatic, with full implementation across the Aegean scheduled for 2029.

EU fuel rules also require costlier biofuels, which remain limited in availability.

Collectively, these measures are projected to add €320 million in operating costs by 2031, according to the Foundation for Economic and Industrial Research (IOBE).

Daily kathimerini reported that ferries have begun to communicate price changes to partners, including Minoan Lines, which announced that freight charges for Piraeus-Crete routes will rise by €2.50 per linear meter for trucks. Similarly, cabin fares on the same route are expected to jump from €96 to €110.40, with economy-class tickets increasing from €37 to €42.50.

The study further predicts that reduced service frequency and higher prices will cause a 10.4% decline in passenger traffic and lead to the loss of 16,000 jobs by 2031.

Additionally, the overall economic impact could exceed €650 million in GDP losses.

Minister of Shipping and Island Policy Christos Stylianides emphasized the importance of fleet modernization during a recent forum. He said that €265 million has been secured for green ship construction through public-private partnerships, underscoring the government’s commitment to sustainability.

Still, experts say fleet modernization, estimated at €3 billion, poses significant challenges.

As ticket prices rise, consumers and businesses are bracing for long-term impacts on Greece’s critical maritime connections.

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2 comments

  1. So we can expect everything to go up! 😵‍💫

  2. Climate cultists have now begin to tax us.