Many prospective holidaymakers were left disappointed after Ponte Ferries – a new fast-ferry catamaran service operating to and from Malta and Sicily – announced that a last-minute legal challenge forced it to delay its launch, originally scheduled for tomorrow, 6th August.

As a result, a number of Maltese people who had planned to visit Sicily in the coming days had to resort to booking last-minute tickets with a different catamaran service, which were considerably more expensive.

“We were due to go on Saturday, just cost me €568 to book with [a different company],” one frustrated traveler said.

Ponte Ferries’ delay was brought on after a competing operator lodged a last-minute objection to its use of the Augusta Port in Sicily.

“We apologise to our customers first and foremost for the huge disappointment this development will inevitably cause. We know how important their holidays are and are doing everything we can to make it up to them while we work round the clock to resolve this issue,” a spokesperson for the company said.

Having said that, there is still hope for those who planned to visit Sicily in the coming days!

 Ponte Ferries is now offering chartered flights to customers who booked a trip in the coming days – but that’s not all, as affected customers are also entitled to a free voucher for car rental.

 Alternatively, customers can choose to claim a refund, which will be provided instantly together with a voucher to use Ponte Ferries’ service for free over the next 12 months.

 With Ponte Ferries momentarily out of the picture, those wishing to travel to Sicily by ferry can still make use of Virtu Ferries’ services – the only other catamaran service operating between the two islands for the time being.