September 3, 2020
A Terrible Summer Season Forces Brittany Ferries to Take Further Action
Brittany Ferries announced the closure of some easterly routes. Caen-Portsmouth however remains open.
Westerly routes will see the arrival of a new vessel in December.
Negative
- Decision by the UK government to impose quarantine restrictions resulted in 65,000 pax cancellations and less bookings for autumn
- BF was hoping for a summer season with 350,000 pax (instead of the normal 700,000+)
- BF will only reach 200,000 passengers maximum
- Passengers = 75% of BF’s income
Positive
- BF has re-affirmed that its foundations are strong
- Reservations for the 2021 season are strong (100,000 pax booked for 2021)
- Newbuilding GALICIA enters service in December, on UK-Spain
Result
- Five-year recovery plan
- Closure of Cherbourg-Portsmouth, Le Havre-Portmouth, Saint-Malo-Portsmouth.
- Cherbourg-Poole will also remain closed for the remainder of the year (closed since March)
- CONNEMARA laid up as from 7 September
- BRETAGNE laid up as from 7 September, no further service until 22nd March
- BARFLEUR not in service for rest of 2020
- ETRETAT laid up until further notice
- KERRY no Roscoff-Rosslare service as from 7 September
- CAP FINISTERE 3-month technical lay-over as from December
- ARMORIQUE laid up Q1, 2021
