Latest news with #ChristopheMathieu
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Brittany Ferries boosts Rosslare-Cherbourg sailings
Brittany Ferries has said it will boost sailings on the Rosslare-Cherbourg route after rival Stena Line axes its service between the two ports next month. Stena confirmed recently that it would end its service between Rosslare and the French port from the end of September following a review of its routes. Brittany Ferries, which already operates the same route five times a week, said on Tuesday that it would increase the number of ferry services between the ports to seven a week from the start October. The move means the company will sail daily from Rosslare to Cherbourg. READ MORE Cork and Rosslare-based Brittany Ferries said it was stepping in 'to fill the gap left by a competitor' on the route, adding that it would also increase space on vessels sailing between the ports. Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries, said the company moved quickly once opportunities knocked. 'News that our competitor was stepping back started the firing pistol in a concerted effort to secure port slots and better serve customers in Ireland and France,' he added. Brittany Ferries offers a rail service that can transport freight from Cherbourg to Bayonne on the French-Spanish border, which it launched midway through last month. Dubbed Ro-Ro (roll-on roll-off) Rail, the service allows quick access to the French rail network and on to Spain and Portugal for trailers from Ireland. Brittany Ferries launched its Rosslare-Cherbourg service in 2021 to meet demand from truckers seeking to bypass Britain following Brexit. Freight has doubled on the route this year while passenger numbers are up 50 per cent. Glenn Carr, director of commercial business units at Irish Rail, owner of Rosslare Europort, welcomed Brittany Ferries' announcement. 'Since Brexit, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European Continent have increased sixfold and our priority has been to ensure we maintain that capacity and choice for industry and tourism alike,' he said.
RTÉ News
2 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Brittany Ferries scales up Rosslare-Cherbourg service
Brittany Ferries is set to increase the frequency of sailings between Rosslare and Cherbourg from the end of September. It comes after Stena Lina announced last month that it's withdrawing its three-day ferry service on that route. Brittany Ferries said departures will increase from five to seven every week, which means a daily Brittany Ferries departure from Rosslare Europort. "Brittany Ferries is a company that prides itself on its ability to move quickly when opportunity knocks," said Christophe Mathieu CEO Brittany Ferries. "News that our competitor was stepping back, started the firing pistol in a concerted effort to secure port slots and better serve customers in Ireland and France," he added. The company said it is ready to boost business continuity for Irish hauliers - and to offer more choice to holidaymakers. It said the long-term investment will strengthen trade links between Ireland and France, while offering modern ships, comfort, and a dependable alternative to air travel for passengers.
Irish Examiner
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Brittany Ferries increasing Rosslare-Cherbourg services as passenger volumes up 40% and freight units double
Brittany Ferries is increasing its presence at Rosslare Europort after confirming on Tuesday it will increase sailings to Cherbourg following Stena Line's decision to leave the service. Brittany Ferries, which is long established in Cork, will increase both capacity and frequency of sailings from Rosslare to the French port from the end of September, with departures rising from five to seven every week. Brittany Ferries launched their Rosslare to Cherbourg service in 2021 in a post-Brexit response to demand from hauliers, to obviate the need to cross the UK-landbridge when moving freight between Ireland and France. Passenger volumes have soared nearly 40% this year while freight units have doubled. Brittany Ferries says the increased service can ensure business continuity for Irish hauliers, as well as offering more choice to holidaymakers. 'News that our competitor was stepping back, started the firing pistol in a concerted effort to secure port slots and better serve customers in Ireland and France," said Brittany Ferries chief executive Christophe Mathieu. 'It means greater choice for holidaymakers and even more opportunity for freight operators seeking to by-pass the UK entirely, cutting down on bureaucracy and delays at the UK border. Our new train connection in Cherbourg only adds further strings to the multimodal bow.' The company's first train is being rolled out, which will utilise rail line links from Cherbourg and Bayonne, carrying unaccompanied trailers over 970km of the French rail network. Glenn Carr, director of commercial business units for Iarnród Éireann Irish Rail-Port Authority for Rosslare Europort said since Brexit, direct sailings between Rosslare Europort and the European continent have increased six-fold. "Our priority has been to ensure we maintain that capacity and choice for industry and tourism alike." Stena announced its decision to withdraw its existing three-day Rosslare-Cherbourg service after "an extensive review" with the intention of strengthening the company's investment in the Irish Sea, where it said it will strengthen its Irish Sea network. "We have recently announced investments of almost £40m in our Liverpool and Belfast terminals, as well as the upgrading of the Fishguard port infrastructure. We will also be increasing capacity across the Irish Sea with two new freight vessels planned for the Belfast–Heysham route and an additional freight vessel for the Dublin–Liverpool route," said Stena trade director Johan Edelman.
BBC News
11-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Guernsey: Early ferry schedule release will 'boost island'
A ferry company boss has said the early release of its 2026 schedule will help to support travel for islanders and tourists and freight Ferries is now taking bookings for its services between Guernsey, Jersey, the UK and France up until 3 November chief executive Christophe Mathieu said it was the earliest they had ever released their new timetable and was available four months earlier than last Mathieu said they were supporting travel for islanders and freight services, along with tourism and hospitality partners, through a consistent timetable and early publication. Mr Mathieu, who is also chief executive of Condor Ferries, said: "Brittany Ferries exists to connect people, facilitate trade and enrich the regions we serve," he said."This is the earliest we have launched our Channel Islands' timetable, so is as we promised in the tender last year. "This is also important for our travel trade partners in the UK and continental Europe, as it allow them to plan further ahead, increase group bookings and broaden distribution."The schedule included high speed morning departures from St Malo and evening returns to France, along with departures on six days a week to Poole and Portsmouth. Islanders can also connect to Spain and Ireland on Brittany Ferries' Ferries said it was reporting growth on UK and France services this year compared with 2024.
BBC News
22-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Newhaven - Dieppe ferry route grants spark £125m lawsuit
A ferry company says it has launched legal action to sue a shipping company for £125m of losses sustained because of the "vast subsidies" given to its competitor. Brittany Ferries says grants DFDS receives to run its ferry route between Newhaven in East Sussex and Dieppe in France have affected its own routes between Portsmouth and France, costing its business £125m since 2013. Christophe Mathieu, the company's CEO, said: "Hauliers and passengers are turning to low-cost Newhaven because of this significant market distortion." A DFDS spokesperson said: "In light of the ongoing legal proceedings DFDS will revert before the court and will not for now comment in public." In an action lodged with the Brest Commercial Court, Brittany Ferries says it is seeking to recover "significant losses that come from this unfair competition" because of the grants from Syndicat Mixte Transmanche in Mathieu said: "The losses suffered as a consequence of vast subsidies given to DFDS to prop-up the loss-making Newhaven-Dieppe route hurt Brittany Ferries and the regions in which we operate."Portsmouth is our UK-hub and we want the city and the surrounding region to benefit fully from our long-standing partnership." He added: "As well as boosting their bottom line, subsidies ease the significant cost of decarbonisation - costs that must be borne fully by every other ferry company operating on the Channel." The next hearing is on 6 June in Brest in France, Brittany Ferries well as the civil action, Brittany Ferries has also lodged a complaint with the EU's Directorate-General for Competition.
