Brittany ties up with Condor in codesharing deal

Western channel

Brittany ties up with Condor in codesharing deal

Companies to run Poole-Cherbourg service

BRITTANY Ferries’ decision to enter the fast-ferry sector is less of a surprise than the way it has done it – in alliance with one of its rivals on the Western Channel, Condor Ferries.

Under the deal Brittany is chartering the 750-passenger Condor Vitesse to operate a daily service from Poole to Cherbourg starting in Maynext year. Vitesse will do the crossing in two hours, 15minutes.

Brittany will continue to operate up to two crossings a day by conventional ferry.

Condor will operate and crew the fast craft, although there will be one or two Brittany staff on board as well, but Brittany will be responsible for the marketing and the food on board will have a French flavour, in line with Brittany Ferries’ product.

Both companies will sell the route.

The agreement is initially for one year, with an option to extend for another 12 months.

Benefits of the alliance

Condor sales and marketing director Nick Dobbs said the deal benefits both companies.

“This alliance gives us access to Brittany Ferries’ marketing experience and financial backing, which means it will be launched with a heavyweight campaign. It would have been difficult for us to get the route going on our own as it would be a start-up. For Brittany, it is a chance to learn about the fast-ferry market.”

Brittany Ferries marketing and operators director David Longden said:”Strategically, this was the clever thing to do. Condor is the longest-established operator in the fast-ferry sector and it is an independent company, as we are, and its services are compatible with what we do.”

Reservations system

One of the key differences between a fast and conventional ferry is the vehicle mix. Because of the design of the car deck, a fast ferry cannot take too many high-sided vehicles.

The Brittany reservations system has to be changed to prevent this happening. At Condor, a satellite reservations unit will be set up which is responsible for making sure any bookings taken by Condor are put into the Brittany system.

When it has returned from Cherbourg, Condor Vitesse will sail from Poole to St Malo via either Jersey or Guernsey depending on the tides. “We will sell the new route in our Brittany programme offering clients the chance to travel out one way and back the other,” said Dobbs.

Brittany Ferries will do the same, but it will offer clients a one-way crossing on the fast craft and one-way on its Portsmouth St Malo service.

“The ability to mix and match fast and conventional craft will broaden what we do,” said Longden.

Dobbs said there are no plans to extend the codeshare with Brittany. “We will have to see how this works,” he said.

Longden added: “There has been all sorts of talk but we are only codesharing on Cherbourg at this stage. Let’s see where we go in 12 months time.”

Partnership: Condor will provide the vessel and Brittany will be in charge of the marketing and the food on board the Condor Vitesse