Ferry service will not resume until mid-May at the earliest
BRITTANY Ferries will not be restarting sailings from Plymouth next month as stringent travel restrictions continue on both sides of the Channel.
The French-owned firm has decided to extend the suspension of some services operating between the UK, France and Spain.
Only essential travel is currently permitted, and the company said there is little prospect of this easing in the near future.
Four ships that are currently laid-up, but which had been due to resume service in late March, will not now resume service until midMay at the earliest.
Brittany Ferries, which has its UK headquarters in Plymouth, will contact customers who hold bookings on affected sailings, to offer alternative travel or a refund.
The firm said some ships and routes will however continue to operate as scheduled, to accommodate those with essential travel requirements and to allow freight to flow freely.
However, while it thanks its freight customers and drivers for their support during the crisis, only 20% of its annual turnover comes from freight traffic. About 80% of annual income is generated by holidaymakers.
In 2020, the company secured a €117 million loan from French banks to carry it through what it called the most difficult period in its history.
It said it has therefore been forced to take tough decisions on costs throughout the crisis, to ensure the long-term viability of routes and services.