The operator said it faces an ETS bill of around EUR 27 million in 2026, with no allowance made for its recent fleet investment. The company added that the figure applies before the UK introduces an equivalent scheme for ships in British waters. Brittany Ferries also stated it has repaid half of the loan provided to support the company during the pandemic, with the remainder still outstanding.

Routes and ships

The company will sell two vessels as part of the changes. The Poole–Cherbourg route served by the 1992-built BARFLEUR will close from November 2026, and the ship will be sold; a daily Portsmouth–Cherbourg service will operate in its place. The 2007-built COTENTIN, which runs Cherbourg–Rosslare, will also be sold, while that route continues with other vessels.

Brittany Ferries additionally intends to close the Portsmouth–Le Havre route from October 2026, citing subsidised competition on the Dieppe–Newhaven route. The company said it has operated the route while legal challenges remain under consideration in Brussels.

Guernsey, Poole and Cherbourg changes

From 1 November 2026, ships serving Guernsey, Poole and Cherbourg will move to a revised schedule. ISLANDER will operate a triangular Portsmouth–Guernsey–Cherbourg–Portsmouth rotation, while the fast ferry VOYAGER will continue serving Poole–Guernsey, with the option to continue to St Malo. The operator said the new Guernsey–Cherbourg connection opens access to the Cherbourg freight hub.

"Brittany Ferries has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to adapt its model to both long-term trends and short-term shocks," says Christophe Mathieu, Managing Director of Brittany Ferries. "We have overcome the Covid crisis while the borders were closed, we continue to manage the consequences of Brexit, and we strive every day to make holidays in France or Spain accessible to families concerned about the cost of Brexit. life. But we also have to be realistic:

To protect our future and the communities we connect, we need to adapt, and that requires a clear plan that will ensure new opportunities for all who live and work in the regions connected by our ships. “

Jean-Marc Roué, President of Brittany Ferries : " In 19 years as president, I thought I had already experienced many difficult situations impacting the lives of BF employees. Never, after the huge crisis of the pandemic in 2020, did I think I would see such a deterioration in the outlook for business volumes. The EU and the Member States have encouraged us to decarbonise our business as much as possible. We do this, but at the same time we pay a tax that corresponds to a right to sail in my eyes. Not all operators do it at the same level, for some this tax is covered. It is our responsibility as long as flexibility measures, or even employment aid, can be taken to protect the bulk of the company's employees as well as to present our shareholders with a corporate performance that ensures continuity. “

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