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."
The morning after Brittany Ferries statement, Economic Development said that the timetable offers new opportunities for freight.
It said that discussions were ongoing to ensure the new timetable worked for both Guernsey and the company.
Importantly, they said, the new Islander rotation would preserve the existing 4am arrival time into Guernsey from Portsmouth. Frequency would be increased to daily from six times a week.
Passenger numbers from Poole to Saint-Malo via Guernsey were expected to increase, they said, because of the closing of other routes.
“One of the Committee's key priorities this term is to strengthen Guernsey's
trade, tourism, political and cultural connections with France," said committee president Sasha Kazantseva-Miller.
"Since taking office a year ago, we have been making good progress towards that objective.
"The opportunity presented through the wider consolidation of the Brittany Ferries network has the potential to be a step-change – providing Guernsey with a resilient, long-term daily connection via Cherbourg while maintaining the integrity of our existing Portsmouth supply chain, which remains critical to the Bailiwick.
“While these proposals remain under consideration, the Committee believes it is important to be open and transparent with the community about the in principle discussions that are taking place. As part of the next stage of the process, we are engaging with key stakeholders to ensure that all operational, commercial and community considerations are fully understood before any final decision is made.”
This story was updated on 1 July to include the committee's reaction.
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 ()