Brittany Ferries to close routes and sell ships amid tax burden and Covid debt, Guernsey to get Cherbourg link
- Guernsey, Portsmouth and Cherbourg will linked with a new triangular schedule from November
- Company said opening Guernsey to the freight hub of Cherbourg promises new trade partnerships and opportunities
- Voyager will continue to serve Poole to Guernsey, with the option for passengers to travel onwards to St Malo
- The ferry operator faces a €27 million EU Emission Trading System bill in 2026, despite investing in five new vessels in five years
- Half of a Covid-19 emergency loan has been repaid, but the remaining debt continues to impact the company's finances
- Brittany Ferries will close its Poole to Cherbourg route in November and sell the ship Barfleur, replacing it with a Portsmouth to Cherbourg service.
Brittany Ferries has announced plans to close multiple routes and sell two vessels as it grapples with mounting financial pressures including Covid loan repayments, rising taxation and what it describes as unfair competition.
Amid all the changes, the Islander will move to serve a triangular schedule from 1 November between Portsmouth, Guernsey and Cherbourg.
The ferry operator will close its Poole to Cherbourg service in November 2026, selling the 1992-built Barfleur which currently operates the route. A daily Portsmouth to Cherbourg service will replace the crossing.
The company will also sell the Cotentin, built in 2007, which currently runs between Cherbourg and Rosslare. The route will continue to operate using other vessels from the fleet.
In addition, Brittany Ferries plans to close its Portsmouth to Le Havre route in October 2026, citing unfair competition caused by subsidies for the loss-making Dieppe-Newhaven service. The company said it has operated the route for as long as possible whilst legal challenges are considered by Brussels.
The restructuring comes as Brittany Ferries faces a €27 million bill in 2026 from the EU's Emission Trading System (ETS), despite what it describes as industry-leading investment in a cleaner fleet. The company has launched five new vessels in five years, including two in 2025.
Brittany Ferries said the ETS tax provides no allowance for the environmental investment it has already made, calling its fleet the cleanest and greenest on the Channel. The financial burden will increase further when the UK introduces an equivalent scheme for ships operating in British waters.
The ferry operator has repaid half of the loan allocated to save the company during the Covid-19 crisis, but the remaining debt continues to weigh on its finances.
From 1 November 2026, ships serving Guernsey, Poole and Cherbourg will operate on "a more efficient schedule". The Brittany Ferries Islander will serve a triangular route from Portsmouth to Guernsey, Guernsey to Cherbourg, and Cherbourg to Portsmouth.
The fast craft Brittany Ferries Voyager will continue to serve Poole to Guernsey, with the option for passengers to travel onwards to St Malo. The company said opening Guernsey to the freight hub of Cherbourg promises new trade partnerships and opportunities.
Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, said: "Brittany Ferries has a track record in adapting its business to long- and short-term challenges. We overcame Covid when borders were shut, we continue to wrestle with the consequences of Brexit and we are taking steps to make a holiday in France or Spain as reasonable as possible."
"But we have to be realistic. We need adapt and that means a plan to secure a future that will continue to bring opportunities for all those who live and work in the regions we serve. We have informed our ports and will work with everyone affected on this plan for the future."
Q&A
Q: Which routes will Brittany Ferries close?
A: Brittany Ferries will close the Poole to Cherbourg route in November 2026 and the Portsmouth to Le Havre route in October 2026. A daily Portsmouth to Cherbourg service will replace the Poole crossing.
Q: Why is Brittany Ferries restructuring its operations?
A: The company faces mounting financial pressures including a €27 million EU Emission Trading System bill in 2026, outstanding Covid loan repayments, and what it describes as unfair competition from subsidised rival services on the Eastern Channel.
Q: What will happen to services to Guernsey?
A: From 1 November 2026, the Brittany Ferries Islander will operate a triangular route from Portsmouth to Guernsey, Guernsey to Cherbourg, and Cherbourg to Portsmouth. The fast craft Voyager will continue serving Poole to Guernsey with an option to travel onwards to St Malo.
Comments ()