Gozo Channel has announced a temporary suspension of ferry crossings between Mġarr and Ċirkewwa on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Services will be halted between noon and 3pm on both public holidays to allow employees on duty to spend lunchtime with their families.

During this three-hour period, several scheduled sailings will not operate. Departures from Mġarr to Ċirkewwa at 12pm, 12:30pm, 12:45pm, 1pm, 1:30pm, 2pm, 2:15pm and 2:30pm have been cancelled. From Ċirkewwa to Mġarr, the 12:15pm, 12:45pm, 1:15pm, 1:30pm, 1:45pm, 2:15pm, 2:45pm and 3pm crossings will also not take place.

The final ferry from Mġarr before the suspension will depart at 11:30am, while the last crossing from Ċirkewwa will leave at noon. Services will resume in the afternoon with a 3pm departure from Mġarr to Ċirkewwa, followed by a 3:15pm sailing in the opposite direction.

Gozo Channel advised passengers to plan their journeys accordingly. The company said the decision was taken as a gesture of appreciation for employees who work long shifts, often in challenging weather conditions, and thanked staff for their ongoing commitment to providing a reliable service throughout the year.