All at sea
Ferry boss fears EU visa would hit Channel trade
A VISA system for travellers post-Brexit is a “nightmare scenario”, the boss of a crossChannel ferry firm has warned.
Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, said: “Applying for a visa would be a setback. That would make life difficult.”
Brits currently go on 37 million holidays and business trips to other EU states each year.
Other EU citizens make around 16 million trips a year here.
But Brexit has put the future of visa-free travel in doubt. The EU is proposing a new system forcing all non-citizens to pay to get a visa before they travel.
The Association of British Travel Agents has called for the UK to be exempt.
Mathieu also echoed concerns that the UK leaving the EU customs union could lead to delays at ports.
“I think it would be very damaging for sure,” he said, adding it would be near impossible to get an electronic customs system in place by the proposed Brexit date of March 2019.
Britons account for 80% of Brittany Ferries’ passengers.
Turnover rose 5.2% in 2016, with customer numbers up 3%, but Mathieu warned both would be “a few percent down” this year.
However, the pound’s slump against the euro since the Brexit vote a year ago tomorrow means profits would be “significantly reduced”.
Mathieu said the company held off increasing its fares this year but, if sterling remains low, “there will be an impact on prices” he warned.
Despite uncertainties over Brexit, Brittany Ferries has just announced plans to build its biggest ever ship, powered by liquefied natural gas.