JPP releases economic study on Madeira-mainland ferry link

The Madeira party JPP has made public the long-promised economic and financial study on a regular ferry link between Madeira and mainland Portugal. The study finds that no scenario reaches financial balance through operating revenue alone, which JPP says confirms the connection must be treated as a public mobility and territorial cohesion policy rather than a commercial venture. The party criticised the Regional Government for failing to deliver on a pledge made in 2015, and noted that the only shipping company consulted for the study was Grupo Sousa, raising concerns about independence and plurality in the process.