Cross-channel transporter Brittany Ferries is working on plans to start sailing from Plymouth to Portugal in a bid to capitalise on that nation鈥檚 鈥済reen list鈥 status.
The company, which has its 海角视频 HQ in Plymouth, has not yet made any statement about the plans but it is understood management are exploring a possible route from Britain鈥檚 Ocean City to Porto in the north west of the country.
Company insiders say the sailings would have to start this month to make it viable and catch enough summer holiday traffic. Plymouth is seen as the most likely option for the route, which would be the first time the company has sailed to Portugal.
And it is understood the company sees a clear demand from Brits wanting to holiday in the sun, with other traditional summer destinations all on either the 鈥渁mber鈥 or 鈥渞ed鈥 lists under the 海角视频 Government鈥檚 鈥渢raffic light鈥 travel system.
One insider said the company was 鈥渄etermined鈥 to make the most of the opportunity to sail to Porto, one of the fastest growing tourism draws in Europe pre-pandemic and surrounded by beaches, and if it can be done a programme would be announced by about May 21.
Travellers arriving back in the 海角视频 from a 鈥済reen list鈥 company do not have to quarantine and only have to take one post-arrival test.
Joining Portugal on the 鈥済reen list鈥 are Iceland, the Faroe Islands, Gibraltar and Israel. Traditional holiday spots including France, Spain and Greece are on the 鈥渁mber list鈥 meaning arrivals will need to take a pre-departure test, fill in a locator form, and quarantine at home for up to 10 days, with regular testing to see if they are free of the virus and can go out.
French-owned Brittany Ferries welcomed the Government鈥檚 decision to allow foreign holidays again 鈥 but after France and Spain were put on the 鈥渁mber list鈥.
The company, which also sails to the continent from Poole and Portsmouth, said it was pleased France and Spain avoided being on the 鈥渞ed list鈥 of nations, which are under the most stringent restrictions.
But it said the two countries should be reclassified as 鈥済reen鈥 within weeks and that regular reviews of the list are 鈥渋mperative鈥. It expects France and Spain to turn 鈥済reen鈥 at the first review in three weeks鈥 time, because infection rates are falling, while vaccination rates are rapidly rising in both countries.
Brittany Ferries in the news
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 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.
Brittany Ferries has also been urging holidaymakers to consider a ferry vacation this summer instead of flying, thereby avoiding busy terminals and cramped tubes.
鈥淲e want to remind people that there are attractive alternatives to air travel this summer,鈥 said Christophe Mathieu. Brittany Ferries chief executive.
鈥淭aking the ferry means there鈥檚 no need to mingle in a busy terminal building, or arrivals hall, alongside passengers from multiple destinations.
鈥淒rive on-board in your own car, then head straight to a cabin which is fed by fresh sea air. Step outside on deck, visit a bar, restaurant or shop, and do so while social distancing in safety and comfort. This is the modern ferry experience and it鈥檚 why we urge everyone to consider a sail-and-stay holiday in 2021.鈥
Brittany Ferries has also confirmed there will be no increase in prices this summer. The cost of a voyage in 2021 will be no different to last year, whatever changes the Government makes to the traffic light system. The company also offers fully flexible tickets., which means, if the Covid situation changes, travel plans can be changed too.
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Brittany Ferries serves five destinations in north west France and two in northern Spain. In a non-Covid year, the company carries 2.5 million passengers, 85% of whom are British. The company is already taking reservations for 2022.
Brittany Ferries is working on a five-year recovery plan after the Covid pandemic and Brexit problems saw revenue sink by 267million euros.
The firm saw turnover fall to just 202.4million euros in 2020 鈥 a 57% drop from 469million euros a year earlier. The company carried just 752,102 passengers overall in 2020, figures released in March 2021 revealed, down from nearly 2.5milion in 2019. On the Plymouth to Roscoff route passenger numbers sank from 328,133 to 78,445.
With about 80% of company income generated through passenger traffic the company said the effect travel restrictions had on turnover was 鈥渄evastating鈥.
Freight was less badly affected, down 20% from 201,554 units to 160,377 as trucks were allowed to cross the water even when passengers were banned by various anti-coronavirus restrictions.
