Brittany Ferries has announced it will take over services from Portsmouth to the Spanish port of Bilbao, which was axed last week by rival P&O Ferries after 17 years.
Brittany will operate two crossing a week, using its luxury cruise ferry Cap Finistere, starting next spring.
The service will operate alongside Britanny’s twice weekly Portsmouth to Santander and weekly Plymouth to Santander crossings.
Brittany group commercial passenger director Mike Bevens said: "We are confident of making it a success because, with Cap Finistère, we have the right ship for the job.
"We know from CAA statistics that airline passenger numbers to France and Spain have fallen this year and we attribute this to a general disillusionment with no frills airlines."
By Linsey McNeill
