New figures from the Observatoire Régional des Transports de Corse (ORTC) and DREAL Corse confirm the strategic importance of ferry services to the island.
In 2025, Corsica handled 8.5 million passengers, excluding cruise traffic. Air transport remained the largest mode overall, with 4.43 million passengers, while ferries carried 4.07 million passengers. However, during July and August, maritime transport became the dominant mode, with more travellers arriving by ferry than by air.
For ferry operators, this seasonal shift is particularly significant. On 12 August, Corsica hosted 364,500 additional people compared with its resident population of around 360,000, effectively doubling the island’s population. Much of this surge was delivered by ferry services, bringing both passengers and their vehicles.
Bastia remained the island’s main ferry gateway, handling 2.13 million passengers, or more than half of all maritime traffic. Bastia was followed by Ajaccio with 977,000 passengers. Bonifacio, serving the Sardinia route, recorded 268,000 passengers, up 7.5% year-on-year.
At operator level, Corsica Ferries strengthened its leading position with 2.69 million passengers, representing 66% of the market and an increase of 8.3%. Corsica Linea carried 590,000 passengers (14%), while Moby Lines transported 428,000 passengers (11%). Ichnusa Lines showed the strongest growth, up 17% to 154,000 passengers.
Ferries also remained essential for vehicle transport. In August alone, around 132,000 tourist vehicles arrived in Corsica by ship. Over the full year, ferry operators transported 1.49 million passenger vehicles, up 2%.
The comparison with aviation is revealing. Airlines carried slightly more passengers over the full year, but they cannot transport private cars, campervans, motorcycles, or freight. Ferries combine passenger and cargo transport, delivering both visitors and the supplies needed to sustain island life. In 2025, 2.1 million tonnes of goods were shipped to Corsica, with RoRo freight accounting for the largest share.
The 2025 figures underline a clear conclusion: aviation dominates annual passenger totals, but ferries become the island’s primary transport mode during the busiest summer months and remain indispensable for vehicles, freight, and regional connectivity.
Source: https://www.corse.developpement-durable.gouv.fr/spip.php?page=article&id_article=2316