The Fred Olsen Express shipping company was founded in 1974 by the Olsen family, originally from Norway and based on the Canary Island of La Gomera since 1904, and initially only operated a single line between La Gomera and Tenerife. The age of fast ferries began in 1999 with the Bencomo Express.
Today, Fred Olsen Express exclusively uses futuristic-looking multihull fast ferries, which, at 38 knots (approx. 70 km/h), enable significantly higher speeds and therefore shorter connections than conventional ships. The fleet currently consists of eight ships with capacities of between 250 and 1,598 passengers, including the Betancuria Express, the largest fast ferry in the world.
Fred Olsen Express connects the six largest islands of the Canary Islands (Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma and La Gomera). The shortest route is always used, which means that in many cases Fred Olsen Express does not call at the respective island capital. There is also a line that connects the capital of La Gomera with Valle Gran Rey on the west side of the island. This is the only line that does not connect two islands.
There is a cafeteria and play facilities for children on board all ships. However, there are no sun decks due to the design of the ships. There are also no passenger cabins, which are not necessary in view of the short journey times. The Salón Clase Oro is a kind of first-class lounge for the higher Priority and Oro fare classes. These fare classes include a number of other privileges such as priority boarding, flexible rebooking and free snacks.
In addition to the ferry connections, Fred Olsen Express offers a bus connection to the next largest city on some islands; this is particularly the case where a smaller town rather than the capital is served.