Brittany Ferries 'shot itself in the foot' on French routes

To the Editor,

In light of recent news about route closures and the sale of two ships, it would seem that Brittany Ferries has shot itself in the foot.

How? Until recently it was telling everyone that business was up. I seem to remember that they reported that their Covid loan had been paid off.

That was when they were bidding to operate in the Channel Isles. Now they say that only half has been paid.

Next, the Poole-Cherbourg route was kept open because of the rail link from Bayonne to Cherbourg. Perhaps it's not the success it was thought to be.

Then, of course, the ETS scheme has been in the works for a long time, so Brittany Ferries should have been able to manage it much better.

Lastly, they have all those new ships, leased to replace older vessels that had been paid for, and ordered in a very short time. I am not sure that makes great business sense.

Their website has not been very good for years. For example, you used to be able to book a holiday online but now you have to wait in a phone queue.

Plus, they offer a fraction of the accommodation that they used to – presumably as a result of the appointment of a new manager to their holiday division that only lasted a couple of years but wrecked relations with accommodation providers.

I think that Brittany Ferries’ problems – a lot of them, at least – are self-inflicted by being far too optimistic about revenue growth.

Frankly, they have a monopoly in the western Channel so it ought to be a goldmine.

A.S., by email

Editor’s note: We contacted Brittany Ferries but it declined to comment.