Cross-channel operator Brittany Ferries has abandoned plans to start sailings from Plymouth to the Portuguese city of Porto this summer after Spain decided to admit tourists again.
The company, which has its 海角视频 HQ in Plymouth, had been and had even sent senior members of its technical, ports and strategy teams to Porto to check on the feasibility of sailing ferries to the port..
But following a week of “constructive discussions” with representatives in Porto, Brittany Ferries said the decision to re-open neighbouring Spain to British tourists, combined with falling Covid cases and rapidly rising vaccination rates in the country, meant opening a new Porto route is no longer commercially viable.
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“Technically, we could open a route to Porto, but the game changed rapidly on Friday with the announcement from Spanish authorities,” said Christophe Mathieu, chief executive of Brittany Ferries. “It simply wouldn’t make sense to open a new route – and displace passengers already booked on services to Spain, if our second biggest market is open for business.
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“We hope and expect Spain to be placed on the 海角视频’s green list at the first review in early June and for that reason we took the decision to shelve the plan.”
However, Mr Mathieu said the decision is not the end of a potential Plymouth to Porto route, and he added: “We have been overwhelmed by messages of support from existing passengers, new customers and via social media urging us to sail to Porto.
“So, while I am sure there will be disappointment, when it comes to Portugal we never say never.”
Last week, Spanish authorities confirmed the country would open for tourism from Monday May 24, and that Brits would not need to take a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test before arrival.
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Meanwhile, data continues to show a rapid rise in vaccination rates. About half the Spanish population has now been vaccinated against Covid-19. New Covid cases have also fallen to their lowest levels since August 2020.
Brittany Ferries had been hoping to have a Plymouth to Porto route running before the end of May, possibly .
The French-owned company had been exploring the possibility of services between Devon and Portugal since the country was placed on the “green list” of nations by the 海角视频 Government.
But it was always said that a service to Portugal would need to start before the end of May to make it viable and catch enough summer holiday traffic, with Plymouth, rather than the company’s other main 海角视频 port Portsmouth, being seen as ideal for the link.
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A crossing between Plymouth and Porto would take about 30 hours and if one was started in future it would mean Portugal becoming the first new destination nation for Brittany Ferries since it started sailing to Spain in 1978.
Brittany Ferries has welcomed the Government’s decision to allow foreign holidays again – but wants regular reviews of the “traffic light” system and was pleased France and Spain avoided being on the “red list” of nations, which are under the most stringent restrictions. But it said the two countries should be reclassified as “green” within weeks and that regular reviews of the list are “imperative”.
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It expects France and Spain to turn “green” at the first review in June, because infection rates are falling, while vaccination levels are rapidly rising in both countries.
The firm predicted a green light from the Government would release an avalanche of latent demand for late June and the peak summer season.
It has said the areas it serves are not population centres, but rural regions characterised by beaches, mountains, and forests. The company said they should appeal in particular to those with concerns about holidaying in big cities or busy resorts.