The maritime transport industry continues to navigate challenging waters, with some companies finding unexpected sources of growth. Jean-Marc Roué, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at Brittany Ferries, recently shared insights about his company’s strategic positioning and the evolving dynamics of cross-channel ferry services. His assessment reveals how Irish routes have emerged as a crucial lifeline for the company, compensating for declining traditional markets.
Speaking about the 2025 season, Roué confirmed that Brittany Ferries achieved its target of 2.04 million passengers. This success stems primarily from increased activity on Irish connections, particularly the Cherbourg-Rosslare route which experienced remarkable growth. The company’s fleet renewal and additional rotations positioned it well for this expansion, though challenges remain in other market segments.
Strong performance on Irish connections drives growth
The Irish market transformation represents perhaps the most significant development for Brittany Ferries in recent years. The company now controls 55% of passenger traffic on routes connecting Ireland to continental Europe, a dominant position that continues to strengthen. This market leadership became even more pronounced when the company resumed services previously operated by Stena from Cherbourg in September.
Passenger numbers on the Cherbourg-Rosslare route surged by 37% compared to 2024, reflecting both increased capacity and growing demand for direct connections between Ireland and the continent. The overall passenger increase of 3% across all routes masks the exceptional performance of Irish services, which have become the company’s primary growth engine. Routes from Spain, Normandy, and Roscoff to Ireland all continue their upward trajectory.
| Route Performance | 2024 vs 2025 | Key Factors |
|---|---|---|
| Cherbourg-Rosslare | +37% | Increased capacity, resumed service |
| UK routes (all) | +1.47% | Market constraints, Brexit effects |
| Overall passengers | +3% | Irish growth offsetting UK decline |
The freight sector tells an even more compelling story. In 2019, Brittany Ferries transported 5,771 trucks between Ireland and continental Europe. By 2025, this figure has exploded to 38,362 trucks, representing a dramatic shift in logistics patterns. This transformation reflects the fundamental reorganization of European supply chains following Brexit, with Ireland becoming increasingly important as a gateway to European markets.
Brexit reshapes European freight corridors permanently
The post-Brexit landscape has fundamentally altered freight movement patterns across Northern Europe. Previously, approximately 280,000 trucks crossed the English Channel between northern France and Great Britain annually, including tunnel traffic. Today, nearly half of this volume now takes direct sea routes to the Republic of Ireland, bypassing the traditional land bridge through England entirely.
This shift created what Roué describes as “our little eldorado” in an otherwise damaged post-COVID and post-Brexit market environment. The transformation benefits both passengers and freight, though it particularly impacts commercial transport where efficiency and customs procedures play crucial roles. Companies increasingly prefer direct maritime connections to avoid the complexities of transiting through British territory.
Several factors contribute to this permanent shift in logistics patterns :
- Customs simplification – Direct routes eliminate double customs procedures
- Time efficiency – Avoiding British transit reduces overall journey times
- Regulatory certainty – EU-Ireland connections remain within single market framework
- Cost optimization – Reduced administrative burden and potential delays
While speculation exists about potential bilateral agreements that might restore some traffic to the land bridge, Roué remains confident that this transformation represents a permanent market evolution. Even if some effects might diminish over time, the fundamental advantages of direct connections will likely maintain this new traffic pattern.
Carbon tax implementation creates financial pressure
Despite operational successes, Brittany Ferries faces significant financial challenges from the European Union’s carbon tax implementation. The company originally projected a 5% revenue increase but struggles to pass necessary price increases to customers. The carbon tax alone should have generated €17 million in additional ticket revenue, but market resistance prevents full cost recovery.
The carbon tax burden now represents approximately 4% of Brittany Ferries’ total revenue, which exceeds €600 million. This creates a complex financial equation where the company must pay carbon taxes to the European Union while unable to fully recover these costs from passengers. The situation forces extreme rigor in cost management, including careful control of payroll expenses.
Newer vessels in the fleet offer some relief through higher capacity and lower emissions, resulting in reduced carbon tax liability per passenger. However, this technological advantage only partially offsets the overall financial impact. The company expected government financing for decarbonization projects, such as the Saint-Malo vessel and rail-ferry services, but immediate support appears unlikely.
Recovery strategy balances growth with financial constraints
The company’s survival plan implementation shows positive results, with Brittany Ferries successfully repaying public aid and strengthening its capital position. However, reduced consumer spending power combined with additional tax burdens creates ongoing challenges. Management expects 2025 results to fall short of 2024 performance despite operational improvements.
Current passenger levels of 2.04 million remain below the 2.20 million achieved in 2019, highlighting the industry’s ongoing recovery challenges. The UK market, while growing modestly, remains 13.5% below pre-pandemic levels across all routes. School group travel shows particularly concerning declines, dropping 45% compared to 2019 and 10% year-over-year, as passport requirements and potential visa obligations discourage educational travel.
Looking ahead, Brittany Ferries continues adapting to this transformed market environment. The Irish success story provides a foundation for future growth, while the company maintains its dominant position in cross-channel ferry services. Management focuses on operational efficiency and strategic route development to navigate ongoing challenges while capitalizing on emerging opportunities in the evolving European transport landscape.
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