EMERAUDE Ferries has cancelled all sailings until at least late February and its future now looks bleak.

Thousands of Islanders who have planned skiing holidays could face serious disruption to their travel plans.

Last week the company announced it was axing services until 20 December, but yesterday it extended that period until 20 February.

January and February are the height of the skiing season and thousands use Emeraude services to get to the slopes.

Yesterday, local Emeraude management met Chief Minister Frank Walker and Economic Development Minister Philip Ozouf to update them on the position.

Senator Walker said: ‘It’s very clear to us that the matter is now out of their hands.’ He added that Senator Ozouf will now be seeking an urgent meeting with the chairman of Emeraude parent company Sogestran.

It has emerged that Sogestran has lost eight million euros since taking over Emeraude two years ago.

Senator Walker said that the government will now be looking to work with Condor in order to achieve a sensible arrangement for the travelling public.