Ferry operator warns Brexit is already hitting bookings for 2019

Brittany Ferries is warning that Brexit is already having a potentially damaging effect on tourism after seeing a fall in demand for family holidays next summer.

The ferry operator said that while it had had an ‘encouraging summer season’ this year, with a 2% year on year increase in passenger traffic, bookings for next summer are on a ‘worrying downward trend’.

Brittany, which is investing €450 million in three new ships, said there would be serious consequences for international tourism and the regions it serves if a Brexit deal doesn’t bring certainty and retain fee movement across borders.

The operator’s strongest performing route from July to September this summer was Cork-Roscoff, which saw a 9% rise in passenger traffic.

This reflected additional capacity following the arrival of the chartered-vessel Connemara to Brittany fleet in May.

Connemara also contributed to a 12% rise on long-haul routes operating between the UK, Spain and Ireland.

The company’s most popular route, Portsmouth-Caen – which carries around 30% of passengers – saw a 2% rise.

Meanwhile Plymouth-Roscoff traffic was down 1%, and Cherbourg-Portsmouth saw a 9% drop due to a shorter season for the high-speed craft, Normandie Express.

Overall freight volumes for the same period fell by 5%, from 47,815 to 45,649 units.

"While the summer period saw an encouraging rise in passenger traffic, we cannot afford to be complacent," said CEO Christophe Mathieu. "Eighty-five percent of our passengers are British holidaymakers visiting key regions in France and northern Spain. And we know that uncertainty and instability in the UK will have consequences on both sides of the channel.

"We have recently announced significant investment in fleet renewal. For example, next year our new LNG-powered vessel Honfleur will arrive to serve our busiest Portsmouth-Caen route with a capacity for up to 1,700 passengers. Two more ships will follow as part of our €450m investment in the future. But we need to make sure we have passengers and freight to fill these new ships.

"Family bookings for next summer already show a worrying downward trend, so today we sound the alarm. A poor deal, or perhaps no deal at all, could impact Brittany, Normandy and the Loire, regions that have benefited directly from the links we have established and the demand we have grown for Brits travelling overseas over the last 45 years."