During a visit to the new RoPax SAINT-MALO, Ferry Shipping News spoke with Brittany Ferries CEO Christophe Mathieu about the company’s ambitious fleet renewal programme, the challenges of ETS, and his views on maintaining fair competition in the Channel market.
https://ferryshippingnews.com/brittany-ferries-ceo-on-fleet-renewal-ets-and-fair-competition/
In Summary
Between June and September 2025, Brittany Ferries carried over 1.2 million passengers across its 12 routes — a 3% increase compared with 2024. This third consecutive summer of growth confirms the company’s sustainable development trajectory. Annual results, expected in spring 2026, should reinforce this trend.
“The strong summer results show that our strategy is working and that our business model is solid. Brittany Ferries continues to grow with regularity and ambition,”
said Christophe Mathieu, CEO of Brittany Ferries.
2025 has been a landmark year for the company, highlighted by the delivery of SAINT-MALO and GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE — the first hybrid LNG/electric/bio-LNG ferries in the EU, setting new standards for environmental performance. The launch of the multinational “motorway of the sea” between the Iberian Peninsula and the British Isles via Cherbourg has also strengthened Brittany Ferries’ position on the Atlantic Arc.
“We’ve regained our pre-Covid business levels, secured French maritime jobs and met the challenge of the energy transition. We now call for fair and proportional support under the ETS scheme to continue our decarbonisation journey,”
said Jean-Marc Roué, Chairman of the Supervisory Board.
Regional Highlights
Normandy: +4.5% passengers
604,130 passengers travelled on Norman routes (+4.5%), led by Caen–Portsmouth (+3%) following the introduction of the hybrid GUILLAUME DE NORMANDIE. Other strong results include:
Brittany: Stable traffic, freight surge
Passenger numbers remained stable at 393,471, while freight volumes rose sharply, boosted by SAINT-MALO, which entered service in February 2025. The route carried 2,390 freight units this summer (+84% year on year).
France–Ireland–Spain Corridor: +7%
Passenger traffic totalled 141,109, up 7%, driven by Cherbourg–Rosslare (+37%) and Rosslare–Bilbao (+9%). Daily sailings on Cherbourg–Rosslare have now begun, reinforcing this strategic link.
UK–Spain: +3%
Long-distance routes between the UK and Spain grew by 3%, with Plymouth–Santander up 6% and Portsmouth–Bilbao up 3%.
Guernsey: +59%
Traffic to Guernsey rose by an impressive 59% year on year.
“These results reflect bold choices: fleet renewal, next-generation ships and agility in seizing new opportunities like Cherbourg–Rosslare. They also highlight the dedication of our teams and partners,”
added Christophe Mathieu.
Access the press release with individual route statistics
Brittany Ferries says EU climate rules must reflect real-world data after a new study showed methane slip from its LNG-powered ships is far lower than regulatory assumptions. Independent research led by Benoit Sagot of ESTACA, published in the Journal of Marine Science and Engineering, recorded annual methane slip of 1.57% on SALAMANCA – less than half the 3.5% figure used in EU benchmarks.
CEO Christophe Mathieu said the company supports the polluter-pays principle but warned it must not be penalised for “phantom emissions that exist only on a spreadsheet.” He urged regulators to revise reference data in ETS and FuelEU rules to ensure innovation is recognised and rewarded. Brittany Ferries, which has invested in four LNG-powered ships, contributed to the year-long study with ADEME and is open to follow-up research.
Photo: Brittany Ferries – Brian Barcher
Fleet Deployment (subject to seasonal rotation):
Stakeholder Statements:
On 17 July, the new rail motorway terminal in Cherbourg was inaugurated.
It links Cherbourg to Mouguerre (south-west France), enabling intermodal freight between Spain, Ireland, and the UK.
Cherbourg handled 91,866 trailers in 2024, confirming its role as a key RoRo hub post-Brexit.
The €11.2m terminal, co-financed by local, national, and EU funds, is equipped with LOHR technology for fast trailer transfer.
Brittany Ferries’ rail subsidiary BAI Rail operates the service, aiming for 6 weekly round trips from Sept 2025, with a daily service by 2030.
Key Points:
New Rail-Ferry Freight Link:
Source: Poole Harbour Commissioners
Brittany Ferries has become the first French maritime company to sign the European Pact on Artificial Intelligence.
A Responsible and Ethical AI Strategy
The company commits to:
A governance strategy was initiated in 2024 to:
Anne-Laure Fabre, member of Brittany Ferries’ AI Governance Committee, said:
“We put people at the heart of our AI approach. It’s not about the power of AI, but how we control it to align with our values, manage risks, and support sustainable innovation.”
Concrete Initiatives
Brittany Ferries promotes a human-centric, field-based AI approach—serving both employees and customers.
Brittany Ferries and Visit Group Join Forces to Drive Digital Transformation
“Our goal is to increase holiday passenger volumes by 15% over the next five years”
Maria Mathieu, Head of Digital Products at Brittany Ferries
Brittany Ferries has partnered with Visit Group to modernize its digital booking systems. This collaboration aims to enhance customer experience and operational efficiency by adopting Visit Group’s modular platform. The new system will offer real-time availability and pricing, streamline internal processes, and support Brittany Ferries’ goal of increasing holiday passenger numbers by 15% over the next five years.
Visit Group provides smart software and technology for the experience and hospitality industry- enabling seamless operations, effortless room and ticket sales, tailored packaging of stays with experiences, and consistent revenue growth across channels.
Brittany Ferries: A Stabilised Return to Growth in 2024
Brittany Ferries has reported strong operational results for 2024, confirming its stabilised return to growth. The company’s consolidated revenue (excluding Condor Ferries) reached €516 million, marking a 6.5% increase from 2023.
The passenger sector continues its steady recovery, with nearly 2 million passengers transported, a 6.5% rise compared to the previous year. Growth was particularly strong on the Channel routes, where Brittany Ferries outperformed its competitors. Freight volumes also increased by 4%, with the Spanish and Irish routes leading the way at +8.3%.
Despite the introduction of the EU Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS), which added an €8 million cost in 2024, Brittany Ferries maintains solid operational profitability. The company has also significantly reduced its Covid-related debt, fulfilling commitments to repay regional loans and progressing towards a 50% reduction in its state-guaranteed loan by the end of 2025.
Strategic decisions taken over the past decade, particularly the development of long-haul routes to Spain and Ireland, now contribute nearly half of Brittany Ferries’ total revenue. These results reinforce the company’s leadership in sustainable maritime transport, as it continues investing in fleet decarbonisation and innovation.
Brittany Ferries’ resilience is further reflected in the confidence of new private investors and the unwavering support of its historical shareholders. With the introduction of Europe’s two largest hybrid ferries in 2024, the company remains at the forefront of innovation in the maritime sector.
