BC Ferries is launching a promotion for locals and tourists to enjoy the savings on some inter-island routes this summer but the Cortes Island route is not among them.

The goal of the promotion—a 75 per cent discount off vehicle fares—is to motivate customers to travel on later or earlier sailings by providing a discount, freeing up space on more popular sailings.

This is the first time that BC Ferries is running the promotion and "trialing it," according to Deborah Marshall, executive director of public affairs for BC Ferries.

A few Campbell River to Quadra sailings (Sunday-Thursday: 9:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. daily; Friday and Saturday: 11:30 p.m.) are included, but only in the late evening where it does not connect to any Cortes sailings. The promotion still intends to help with Cortes Island ferry traffic by leading Quadra travellers away from Cortes Island connecting ferries.

"Certain routes are not included in the promotion as traffic patterns indicate there are no lower-utilized sailings available during the peak season," a recent BC Ferries news release states.

To learn more, visit the BC Ferries' website here.

Listen below for more details in the CKTZ interview with Deborah Marshall, Executive Director of Public Affairs for BC Ferries: