Greece is expanding its transport network with a new ferry route linking the Ionian islands.

It is the first time the islands will have a connecting service, which will be introduced on 1 May and will run through the summer right up until 31 October.

The news was announced this week by Greece’s Minister of Shipping and Maritime Affairs, Panagiotis Kouroumblis.

“The linking of the Ionian islands will be a new reality that will put an end to the isolation between islands belonging to the same region,” he said.

The new ferry journey will link Corfu with Paxi, Lefkada, Ithaca, Cephallonia and Zakynthos every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and vice versa on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

The service will be run on a 30-metre long vessel, which can carry up to 206 passengers. All routes will be carried out via passenger ship High Speed Azimut Joy Cruises.

The ferry connection of the Ionian Islands had been a demand of locals and professionals for years.