Brittany Ferries’ summer season boosted by arrival of new ships

• Guillaume de Normandie
• Saint-Malo
• Christophe Mathieu - CEO
• Jean-Marc Roue - president

A rise in passenger numbers over the summer season has been welcomed by Brittany Ferries. The company says it is on track for its third consecutive year of growth when year-end figures are published next spring. It has already smashed the two million barrier.

Today however, it has published figures for its 2025 summer season by route. The data covers the months from June to September, and reveals an overall three percent increase in passengers carried on 12 routes. In total 1,200,522 people took to the sea on the so-called Atlantic Arc, 33,341 more than the previous summer.

“We continue to scale what seemed to be an insurmountable mountain when the Covid crisis struck,” said Christopher Mathieu CEO Brittany Ferries. “These latest figures are proof that we are getting stronger every year and I am delighted that we continue to grow. Our path to the future looks brighter than it has done for many years.

“This only comes thanks to careful management of our fleet,” he added. “That includes adding new ships and our ability to move swiftly when opportunity knocks. I must also thank all those who work within our company, on board and on shore for their hard work and dedication. Finally, we must never forget the unwavering support, commitment and confidence of our farmer-shareholders with whom we stand shoulder to shoulder in continuing this beautiful venture.”

 

Normandy routes (June to September)

Portsmouth-Caen is described as the company’s workhorse route, as it carries around 40 percent of all passengers. This year passengers were treated to a brand new hybrid ship called Guillaume de Normandie. Powered by a combination of cleaner LNG and electricity, she boasts an interior designed in partnership with the region that bears her name.

Passengers have highly praised the new vessel for smooth, quiet operation and beautifully-appointed cabins. It is no exaggeration to say that on many departures many are unaware that the ship is moving until they see sights like Spinnaker Tower passing on the port side.

In total, twenty-five thousand more passengers travelled to and from Normandy from Britain and Ireland than the previous summer. This represents a 4.5 percent rise.

 

June to September (Normandy Routes)

	2024	2025	Up/down	Percent
Caen Portsmouth	403,999	415,824	11,825	3%
Cherbourg Poole	112,221	115,679	3,458	3%
Cherbourg Portsmouth	29,238	30,243	1,005	3%
Le Havre Portsmouth	11,803	13,662	1,859	16%
Cherbourg Rosslare	20,938	28,722	7,784	37%
Total Normandy	578,199	604130	25,931	4.5%

 

Brittany routes (June to September)

Guillaume’s sister ship Saint-Malo joined the fleet in February, completing the largest fleet renewal programme in the company’s history. She too is a cleaner, greener LNG-electric hybrid with an interior that presents a love letter to the region she serves. Passengers have described her as a “worthy successor” to the much-loved Bretagne.

The small dip in passenger numbers on Portsmouth St Malo reflects the new ship’s dual role as a freight and passenger vessel. More freight can be carried in high season than in previous years, when passenger traffic used to fill her predecessor’s garage, due to a more versatile design. This summer she carried 2,390 freight units compared with 1,302 in 2024. That was an increase of 84%.

Overall passenger numbers were almost unchanged on Brittany routes, with Plymouth Roscoff performing particularly well.

 

June to September (Brittany Routes – passengers) 

	2024	2025	Up/down	Percent
Roscoff Plymouth	161,729	166,929	5,200	3%
St Malo Portsmouth	158,780	155,535	-3,245	-2%
Roscoff Cork	72,787	71,007	-1,780	-2%
Total Brittany	393,296	393,471	175	–

 

Portsmouth and Plymouth – Spain (June to September) 

Routes connecting the UK with Spain returned a three percent rise in passenger numbers. The strongest performer was Santander Plymouth which cemented its position as the route of choice for most Brits seeking summer sun in Spain. It was up six percent.

Departures from Portsmouth were virtually unchanged from the previous year. The number of passengers leaving Portsmouth for Bilbao rose by just over a thousand. Conversely Portsmouth to Santander was down by almost exactly the same amount.

	2024	2025	Up/down	Percent
Portsmouth Bilbao	41,766	42,855	1,089	3%
Plymouth Santander	71,291	75,263	3,972	6%
Portsmouth Santander	44,572	43,453	-1,119	-3%
Total UK Spain	157,629	161,571	3,942	3%

 

Ireland-Spain-France

Ireland continued to demonstrate its strategic significance to the company. Ahead of the introduction of daily departures from Rosslare to Cherbourg (October 2025), the route had already proved to be the company’s star performer. Passenger numbers rose 37 percent, contributing to an overall rise of seven percent on Irish routes, nearly 10,000 additional passengers.

The Bilbao Rosslare route continued its growth path. The company expects it to pass the 70,000 passenger mark for the first time when the year ends. Encouragingly 20 percent of travellers are now based in Spain, making the northbound journey to Ireland.

	2024	2025	Up/down	Percent
Cherbourg Rosslare	20,938	28,722	7,784	37%
Roscoff Cork	72,787	71,007	-1,780	-2%
Bilbao Rosslare	38,087	41,380	3,293	9%
Irish routes	131812	141,109	9,297	7%

 

“We have indeed returned to pre-Covid business volumes and have secured the jobs of our seafarers, despite the enormous difficulties caused by the health crisis of 2020,” added company president Jean-Marc Roué.

“We continue to lead the way on our journey towards energy transition. To continue to remain competitive, I am now calling for a fair and proportionate return on this new ETS tax. Let us return to the spirit of the European directive and give Caesar what belongs to Caesar and exemplary shipping companies what they are due to drive forward decarbonisation.”

Ends

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